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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other 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