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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock early exit.

Key Group Pairings

Ireland and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

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

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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