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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw echoes their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and 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 competed in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play 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