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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third 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