🔗 Share this article England and Welsh Pitted in the Same Group for RWC 2027 Down Under The pool stage draw was overseen by sporting icons such as former All Black Dan Carter. England and their Welsh counterparts will face off in the same pool for the World Cup in 2027, promising a highly-anticipated early encounter in the tournament Down Under. They are joined in Pool F by the Tongan Ikale Tahi and the Zimbabwean Sables. This draw mirrors their famous meeting in the group phase of the 2015 tournament, where Wales' victory at England's home ground contributed to the English team's shock early exit. Other Notable Group Pairings Ireland and Scotland have likewise been drawn in a group once again, just as the scenario from the France 2023 tournament. On that occasion, they claimed a 36-14 victory, with their opponents failing to advance to the quarter-finals. Uruguay and Os Lobos, both made a strong impression as underdogs in the last World Cup, round out that same group. Notably, the victors of these two groups are kept apart from holders and world number one South Africa before the showpiece match, assuming the South Africans top their own group. Tournament Ramifications If the groups conclude according to the current world rankings, further leading contenders like the All Blacks and Les Bleus would remain separated from the likes of England and the Irish all the way to the championship decider. Under those circumstances, Los Pumas would be the remaining top-ranked nation on the same half of the elimination bracket as those northern hemisphere teams. Hosts Face Major Fixture Tournament hosts Australia have been drawn together with their trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners the All Blacks in Group A. Australia will kick off the World Cup in the city of Perth on 1 October 2027 in a blockbuster fixture aimed at jump-start the competition. Elsewhere, reigning champions South Africa have been paired with the Azzurri, the Lelos and the Oaks. France are in a pool with the Brave Blossoms, 2031 hosts the United States and Manu Samoa. Expanded Format for 2027 Los Pumas will take on Fiji, Spain and Canada as the World Cup grows to twenty-four nations from the twenty who took part in France. This edition will feature a last-16 stage for the very first time in the competition's existence. While the winner of Pool F may be kept apart from some of the game's heavyweights early on, they will have to face the runner-up from Pool B – probably the Italians – in the last 16. Four of the other six pool 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