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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

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

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