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England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the competition.

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

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other 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