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England together with Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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