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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third 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