🔗 Share this article England and Welsh Pitted Together for the 2027 World Cup Down Under The pool stage draw was overseen by rugby legends including two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side together with their Welsh counterparts find themselves placed in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated early clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing recalls their famous clash in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock group stage elimination. Other Notable Group Pairings The Irish alongside Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. In that tournament, they claimed a convincing win, with Scotland unable to progress to the knockout stages. Uruguay and Portugal, who each impressed as surprise packages in the last World Cup, complete that Pool D. Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from defending champions and top-ranked South Africa until the final, presuming the South Africans win their assigned pool. Knockout Implications If the pools conclude in line with the current world rankings, further top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider. In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the knockout draw as those northern hemisphere teams. Hosts Draw Major Fixture Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A. The Wallabies will open the tournament in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture designed to jump-start the event. Elsewhere, holders South Africa have drawn Italy, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, future hosts the USA and Samoa. Larger Format for 2027 Los Pumas will face Fiji, Spain and Canada as the tournament grows to 24 teams from the 20 who competed in France. This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the first time in Rugby World Cup history. Although the victor of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts initially, they will have to face the second-placed team from Group B – most likely the Italians – in the first knockout round. Four of the remaining six pool winners will play a third-placed side 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