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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play 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