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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final.

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

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

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

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16.

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

Rugby World Cup 2027 Groups

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