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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

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

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third 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