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England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

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

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

RWC 2027 Groups

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