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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a group once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

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

While 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 – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group winners will face 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