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The English side and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe.

This pairing echoes their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the hosts' shock early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

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

Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the South Africans top their own group.

Tournament Implications

If the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider.

In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the event.

Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage 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 game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round.

A total of four of the other six group winners will face 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