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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

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

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round 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 rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining 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