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England and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face 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 match aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

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