🔗 Share this article The English and Welsh Drawn in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under The group draw was conducted by rugby icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. England and their Welsh counterparts have been drawn in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw recalls 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 group stage elimination. Other Notable Pool Draws The Irish and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to progress to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, round out that same group. Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked South Africa before the final, presuming the Springboks top their own group. Tournament Implications Should the pools play out in line with the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from both England and Ireland all the way to the final. In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. 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. Australia will open the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the event. In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. This edition will feature a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. Four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages. RWC 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