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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the group phase 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 Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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