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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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