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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group 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