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England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

Rugby World Cup 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