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The English side together with Wales will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables.

This draw recalls their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's surprise early exit.

Key Group Draws

The Irish and Scotland also share a pool once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D.

Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks until the final, presuming the South Africans top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final.

Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams.

Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A.

Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match designed to jump-start the competition.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa.

Larger Format for 2027

Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and Canada as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France.

The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history.

While the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will face a team that finished third 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