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The English side together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the group phase 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

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the winner 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 Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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