🔗 Share this article The English along with Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia The pool stage draw was overseen by sporting icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in an identical pool for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit. Key Group Draws Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group. Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their assigned pool. Knockout Ramifications Should the groups play out according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final. In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to launch the competition. In other groups, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Los Pumas will take on the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023. This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence. While the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16. A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages. 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