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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other 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