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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group 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 remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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