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England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

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

Key Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

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

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Knockout Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights 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 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