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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023.

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

Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

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

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