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The English side and Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland also share a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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