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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face 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