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England and Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

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

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

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