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England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to 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 find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions 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.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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