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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

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

Four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side 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