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The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit.

Key Pool Draws

The Irish and the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

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

Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener

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

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence.

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

Four of the other 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