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The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Other Notable Pool Pairings

The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group.

Notably, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool.

Knockout Implications

If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland.

Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener

Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A.

Australia will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the competition.

Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Expanded Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023.

The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the very first time in the competition's 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 the Italians – in the first knockout round.

Four of the other six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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