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England together with Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in France, round out that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

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

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

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

A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face 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