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England and Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face 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