🔗 Share this article The English along with Wales Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 in Australia The pool stage draw was conducted by rugby icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, promising a major pool stage encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This pairing recalls their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's surprise early exit. Key Pool Draws Ireland alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Portugal, who each made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D. Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked the Springboks before the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool. Knockout Ramifications If the groups conclude according to the current global standings, further leading contenders like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the final. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the other top-ranked nation on that side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams. Hosts Draw Major Opener Tournament hosts Australia find themselves together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event. In other groups, holders South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament grows to twenty-four nations from the 20 who competed in France. This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in Rugby World Cup history. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the game's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. Four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase. 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