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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

Should the pools play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event.

In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group 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 Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play a team that finished third 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