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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on 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 feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

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