Wales Want ‘group Of Death’ Game In Cardiff

Organisers of the Rugby World Cup 2015 have refused to rule out the possibility of England playing their Pool A group game against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, after the hosts were drawn in what many consider to be the toughest pool of the competition – with the British pair also set to face former champions, Australia.  

Following the draw, WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis, said: ‘I think they [England] would embrace the opportunity to play in the finest rugby stadium in the world.’

England Rugby 2015, organisers of the competition, are in charge of drawing up the fixture schedule and venues, which will be revealed in March – with the Millennium Stadium one of 17 possible venues in England’s bid document.

In previous World Cups, the host country has played one of its strongest group rivals in the opening game of the tournament. 

Barring the 1995 edition in South Africa, the venue used in the opening game has also been the venue used for the final.

If that tradition continues, England would be likely to play Wales or Australia in the first match at Twickenham.

Australia, England and Wales will also be joined in Pool A by the Oceania qualifiers, strongly favoured to be Fiji, and the repechage winners.

Meanwhile, Scotland have drawn South Africa and Samoa in Pool B, along with two other teams from qualifiers via Asia and America. 

The World Cup will get underway on 18th September, 2015, with the final to be held at Twickenham on 31st October.