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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of 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