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England together with Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool 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