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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

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

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

RWC 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