π Share this article The English and Wales Drawn in the Same Group for the 2027 World Cup in Australia The group draw was overseen by sporting icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major early clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw echoes their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit. Key Group Draws The Irish and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D. Significantly, the victors of these two groups cannot meet holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool. Tournament Implications If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both the English and the Irish until the championship decider. In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on the same side of the knockout draw as England and Ireland. Hosts Draw Blockbuster Opener Tournament hosts Australia find themselves alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A. The Wallabies will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to launch the competition. Elsewhere, reigning champions the Springboks have been paired with Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Larger Format for 2027 Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history. Although the winner of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B β most likely Italy β in the first knockout round. Four of the remaining six group winners will play a third-placed side 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