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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash 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 Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side 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