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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

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

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament 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 initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

RWC 2027 Draw

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