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England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

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

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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