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England together with Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

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