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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Pairings

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Ramifications

If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six group winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase.

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