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England together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game'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 other six group winners will face a team that finished third 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