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England together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group 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