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The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves 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 blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining 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