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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to 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 the Irish all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

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

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side 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