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The English side together with 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 the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, 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, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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