🔗 Share this article England and Welsh Pitted Together for RWC 2027 Down Under The group draw was overseen by rugby icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. The English side together with Wales find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 RWC, promising a major early clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit. Key Group Draws Ireland alongside the Scots have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D. Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their assigned pool. Tournament Ramifications If the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish until the final. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A. Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the competition. Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa. Expanded Tournament for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France. This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence. Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third 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