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The English side and Wales will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

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

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group 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