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The English side and Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

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

Knockout Implications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face 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 play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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