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England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side 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