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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely 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