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England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, 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 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