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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

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

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

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

Australia will kick off the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face 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