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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool 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