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The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and Scotland also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six group winners will play 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