🔗 Share this article England and Wales Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under The group draw was conducted by sporting icons including former All Black Dan Carter. The English side together with Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing mirrors their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination. Other Notable Pool Draws Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, round out that same group. Significantly, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool. Knockout Implications Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would remain separated from both England and the Irish until the final. Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Group A. Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee match aimed at jump-start the event. In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, Georgia and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023. This edition will feature a round of 16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history. While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's biggest beasts initially, they will meet the runner-up from Group B – probably Italy – in the last 16. A total of four of the remaining six pool 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