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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing recalls their infamous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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