🔗 Share this article England along with Wales Pitted Together for RWC 2027 in Australia The group draw was overseen by rugby icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England and their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination. Key Pool Draws The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a pool once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D. Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks top their own group. Knockout Ramifications If the groups play out according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland until the championship decider. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture Tournament hosts the Wallabies have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A. The Wallabies will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition. Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Expanded Tournament for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16. A total of four of the other six pool winners will play 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