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England together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

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

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, 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 last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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