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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing echoes their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

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