🔗 Share this article The English along with Wales Pitted in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under The group draw was overseen by sporting icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side together with Wales have been drawn in an identical group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw recalls their infamous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit. Other Notable Group Draws Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they claimed a 36-14 win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Os Lobos, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that Pool D. Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F cannot meet defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks top their own group. Knockout Implications If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland until the final. In that scenario, Argentina would be the other top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Face Major Fixture Hosts Australia find themselves alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A. Australia will kick off the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at jump-start the competition. In other groups, holders South Africa have drawn the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are in a pool with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. This edition will introduce a round of 16 stage for the first time in the competition's existence. While the winner of Pool F may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16. A total of four of the remaining six group winners will face a third-placed side from the pool stages. Rugby World Cup 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