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England together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed 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 world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

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

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