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The English side and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination.

Key Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Os Lobos, who each impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would remain separated from the likes of the English and the Irish all the way to the final.

In that scenario, Argentina 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 together with their trans-Tasman 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 blockbuster match aimed at jump-start the competition.

In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France.

This edition will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the last 16.

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