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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

Should the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

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

This edition will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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