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England together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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