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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition 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 game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

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

Rugby World Cup 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