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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 encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups play out in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

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

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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