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England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

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

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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