🔗 Share this article England and Wales Drawn Together for RWC 2027 Down Under The group draw was overseen by rugby icons including two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side and Wales will face off in an identical pool for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, setting up a major pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This pairing echoes their memorable meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock early exit. Key Pool Pairings Ireland and Scotland also share a pool once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, Ireland secured a 36-14 win, with Scotland failing to advance to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in France, complete that same group. Notably, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the Springboks win their own group. Tournament Implications Should the pools play out according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from both England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great 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 blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition. In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the United States and Samoa. Expanded Tournament for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in 2023. The 2027 tournament will feature a round of 16 round for the first time in the competition's history. Although the winner of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights initially, they will have to face the runner-up from Group B – probably the Italians – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the remaining six group 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