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England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Key Pool Pairings

Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

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

Tournament Ramifications

Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland.

Hosts Draw Major Opener

Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event.

Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in 2023.

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

While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the last 16.

Four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages.

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