🔗 Share this article The English and Welsh Placed in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia The group draw was overseen by rugby icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe. This draw echoes their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise early exit. Other Notable Pool Draws Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group once again, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D. Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group. Knockout Implications If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would also be kept apart from both England and the Irish until the final. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Hosts Draw Major Opener Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the event. Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history. Although the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the remaining six group 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