🔗 Share this article The English along with Wales Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup in Australia The group draw was conducted by sporting icons including former All Black Dan Carter. The English side and Wales will face off in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where a Welsh win at Twickenham contributed to the English team's shock early exit. Other Notable Group Pairings Ireland alongside the Scots also share a pool together, replicating the situation from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to advance to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D. Significantly, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and top-ranked South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group. Tournament Ramifications If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland until the final. In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Tournament Hosts Face Major Opener Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A. The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture aimed at launch the competition. Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who competed in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup history. While the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a team that finished third from the initial group phase. 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