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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations 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 existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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