Rugby World Cup draw: Springboks and All Blacks handed horror route as pools confirmed for 2027 tournament

Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand and Australia have been paired together in Pool A of the 2027 Rugby World Cup after the draw was made on Wednesday.

The Wallabies, given that they are automatically placed in Pool A as the hosts, were the first team out, with the All Blacks the last.

It potentially opens up the prospect of those two rivals going head-to-head in the opening match of the World Cup in Perth on October 1.

The duo have been drawn alongside tournament debutants Hong Kong China as well as Chile.

Elsewhere, defending champions the Springboks were handed their two opponents from this year’s July Tests in Italy and Georgia, with Romania completing the line-up in Pool B.

Springboks v All Blacks quarter-final?

It therefore means that should both the All Blacks and South Africa finish top of their groups, then they will likely face each other in the quarter-finals.

In Pool C, Argentina and Fiji will face-off, while Spain and Canada also make up that group, but Pool D is arguably the big talking point.

For the third World Cup in a row, Ireland and Scotland will go head-to-head, but should both make it through to the knockout stages as Uruguay and Portugal are the other two teams in that pool.

The final three groups contain the northern hemisphere big hitters with France and England headlining Pools E and F, respectively.

Les Bleus take on Japan, USA and Samoa, while the Red Rose will face rivals Wales, as well as Tonga and Zimbabwe.

2027 Rugby World Cup draw

Pool A

New Zealand
Australia
Chile
Hong Kong China

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

READ MORE: LIVE BLOG: Follow the draw of the 2027 Rugby World Cup