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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

RWC 2027 Draw

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