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The English side and Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

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

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament 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 first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 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