🔗 Share this article The English along with Wales Drawn in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under The group draw was overseen by rugby icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England and Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw echoes their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit. Other Notable Group Draws Ireland alongside the Scots also share a group together, replicating the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, Ireland claimed a 36-14 victory, with Scotland failing to progress to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, round out that same group. Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet defending champions and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool. Tournament Ramifications Should the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider. Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture Hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee match designed to launch the competition. In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and Romania. The French team are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Manu Samoa. Expanded Tournament for 2027 Argentina will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the remaining six pool winners will face a team that finished third 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