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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA 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 20 who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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