🔗 Share this article The English along with Wales Drawn Together for RWC 2027 in Australia The group draw was overseen by sporting icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same group for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in Australia. They are joined in Pool F by Tonga and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw recalls their memorable clash in the pool stages of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit. Other Notable Pool Draws Ireland alongside Scotland also share a pool together, just as the scenario from the 2023 edition. In that tournament, they secured a convincing win, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals. Los Teros and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group. Significantly, the victors of both Pool D and Pool F are kept apart from holders and world number one the Springboks before the showpiece match, presuming the Springboks win their assigned pool. Knockout Ramifications Should the groups conclude in line with the current global standings, other top favourites like New Zealand and France would also be kept apart from the likes of England and Ireland all the way to the championship decider. In that scenario, Argentina would be the other highly-seeded nation on the same side of the elimination bracket as England and Ireland. Hosts Face Blockbuster Opener Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their great rivals and triple champions New Zealand in Group A. The Wallabies will kick off the tournament in Perth on October 1st, 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition. Elsewhere, holders the Springboks have drawn Italy, Georgia and the Oaks. The French team are grouped with Japan, future hosts the USA and Manu Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Argentina will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to 24 teams from the twenty who took part in 2023. This edition will introduce a last-16 round for the very first time in the competition's history. While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the rugby's biggest beasts early on, they will meet the second-placed team from Pool B – most likely Italy – in the first knockout round. A total of four of the other six group winners will play a third-placed side from the initial group phase. 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