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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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