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England together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group 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