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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, 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 showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands 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 rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side 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