🔗 Share this article England along with Wales Drawn in the Same Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia The group draw was overseen by rugby legends including two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter. The English side and Wales find themselves placed in an identical group for the World Cup in 2027, setting up a highly-anticipated pool stage clash in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Group F by Tonga and Zimbabwe. This draw recalls their famous clash in the pool stages of the 2015 World Cup, where Wales' victory at Twickenham contributed to the English team's surprise group stage elimination. Key Pool Draws The Irish and the Scots also share a group once again, replicating the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, Ireland secured a convincing victory, with their opponents unable to progress to the quarter-finals. Los Teros and Os Lobos, who each made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, complete that same group. Notably, the winners of these two groups cannot meet holders and top-ranked the Springboks until the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans win their assigned pool. Tournament Implications Should the groups conclude according to the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of the English and Ireland all the way to the final. In that scenario, Argentina would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Hosts Face Major Opener Hosts the Wallabies find themselves together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Pool A. Australia will open the World Cup in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster match designed to jump-start the event. In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. France are grouped with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the USA and Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Argentina will take on the Flying Fijians, Los Leones and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the 20 who took part in 2023. This edition will feature a round of 16 stage for the very first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's heavyweights initially, they will meet the runner-up from Pool B – probably Italy – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the other six pool winners will face a team that finished third from the pool stages. 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