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England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener

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

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

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

While the victor of Pool F 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 first knockout round.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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