🔗 Share this article England along with Welsh Drawn Together for RWC 2027 Down Under The group draw was conducted by rugby icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. The English side and Wales have been drawn in the same pool for the 2027 RWC, promising a highly-anticipated pool stage encounter in Australia. Completing the group in Group F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables. This pairing mirrors their memorable meeting in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground played a part in the hosts' shock group stage elimination. Key Group Draws Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group together, just as the situation from the 2023 edition. On that occasion, they secured a convincing victory, with Scotland unable to advance to the knockout stages. Los Teros and Portugal, who each impressed 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 South Africa until the final, assuming the Springboks top their assigned pool. Knockout Ramifications If the pools conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like the All Blacks and France would remain separated from both the English and Ireland all the way to the championship decider. In that scenario, Los Pumas would be the remaining highly-seeded nation on the same half of the knockout draw as England and Ireland. Tournament Hosts Face Blockbuster Fixture Hosts the Wallabies have been drawn alongside their great rivals and three-time winners New Zealand in Pool A. Australia will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at launch the competition. In other groups, holders the Springboks have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and Romania. France are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Samoa. Larger Format for 2027 Los Pumas will face the Flying Fijians, Spain and the Canadian team as the tournament expands to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. The 2027 tournament will introduce a round of 16 round for the first time in Rugby World Cup existence. Although the victor of England and Wales's group may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will have to face the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely the Italians – in the last 16. Four of the other six group 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