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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round 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 runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third 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