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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

Ireland and the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

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

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, 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 play a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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