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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

RWC 2027 Groups

Pool A

• New Zealand
• Australia
• Chile
• Hong Kong

Pool B

• South Africa
• Italy
• Georgia
• Romania

Pool C

• Argentina
• Fiji
• Spain
• Canada

Pool D

• Ireland
• Scotland
• Uruguay
• Portugal

Pool E

• France
• Japan
• USA
• Samoa

Pool F

• England
• Wales
• Tonga
• Zimbabwe