๐ Share this article The English and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 Down Under The group draw was conducted by rugby legends including two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a major pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. Completing the group in Pool F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This draw mirrors their infamous meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the English team's shock early exit. Other Notable Pool Pairings Ireland and the Scots have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, Ireland claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Portugal, both impressed as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group. Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks win their own group. Tournament Implications Should the pools conclude according to the current world rankings, other leading contenders like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the final. Under those circumstances, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Draw Major Fixture Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will open the tournament in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match aimed at launch the event. Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Los Leones and Canada as the World Cup expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in 2023. The 2027 tournament will introduce a last-16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B โ probably Italy โ in the first knockout round. Four of the other six group winners will face a team that finished third from the initial group phase. RWC 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