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The English side and Wales have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside the Scots also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish all the way to the championship decider.

In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages.

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