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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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