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The English side together with their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Group Draws

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

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

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase.

RWC 2027 Groups

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