🔗 Share this article England along with Wales Placed Together for the 2027 World Cup Down Under The pool stage draw was overseen by sporting icons such as two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. England and Wales will face off in the same group for the 2027 RWC, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 World Cup, where a Welsh win at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' surprise early exit. Other Notable Pool Draws Ireland alongside Scotland also share a group together, just as the situation from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 win, with their opponents failing to progress to the quarter-finals. Los Teros and Portugal, both made a strong impression as surprise packages in France, complete that Pool D. Notably, the winners of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa until the final, presuming the Springboks top their assigned pool. Knockout Implications If the pools conclude in line with 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. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on that half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions the All Blacks in Pool A. Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a marquee fixture designed to jump-start the event. In other groups, reigning champions South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. The French team are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Larger Tournament for 2027 Los Pumas will face Fiji, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the 20 who took part in France. The 2027 tournament will feature a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may avoid some of the rugby's heavyweights early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Group B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round. Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side from the pool stages. RWC 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