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England and Wales find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish and the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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