🔗 Share this article The English and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia The pool stage draw was overseen by rugby legends such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This pairing recalls their memorable clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit. Other Notable Pool Draws Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D. Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the final, presuming the South Africans win their own group. Tournament Ramifications If the groups play out in line with the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the championship decider. In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener Hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A. Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition. Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16. A total of four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages. Rugby World Cup 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