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England together with Wales will face off in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in Australia. They are joined in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's shock group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that same group.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the final.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Face Major Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

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

While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group 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