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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face 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