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The English side and their Welsh counterparts will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe.

This draw echoes their memorable 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' surprise group stage elimination.

Other Notable Pool Draws

Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals.

Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that Pool D.

Notably, the winners of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool.

Tournament Ramifications

If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England 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.

Tournament Hosts Draw Blockbuster Fixture

Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A.

The Wallabies will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match aimed at launch the event.

In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa.

Larger Tournament for 2027

Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France.

This edition will introduce a last-16 stage for the first time in the competition's history.

Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round.

Four of the remaining six group winners will play 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