🔗 Share this article The English and Welsh Pitted Together for RWC 2027 Down Under The pool stage draw was overseen by rugby legends including two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and Zimbabwe. This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at Twickenham played a part in the English team's surprise early exit. Key Pool Pairings Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a 36-14 victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, round out that Pool D. Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks until the final, assuming the South Africans win their own group. Knockout Implications Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland until the final. In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams. Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture Tournament hosts the Wallabies find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A. The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to launch the event. In other groups, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Samoa. Larger Format for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France. This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence. While the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16. A total of four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase. 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