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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the final.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

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

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