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England together with Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the hosts' surprise group stage elimination.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages.

Los Teros and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in France, complete that same group.

Significantly, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Ramifications

If the groups play out in line with the current global standings, 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 highly-seeded nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Group A.

The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 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, future hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in 2023.

This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence.

While the victor of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up 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 initial group phase.

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