Australia face the prospect of having to play 2015 World Cup pool matches against England at Twickenham and Wales in Cardiff.
Monday’s draw saw 2015 hosts England drawn alongside Wales and Australia in a tough Pool A dubbed the “group of death” by France coach Philippe Saint-Andre, with only two sides from each of the four pools going through to the quarter-finals.
Cardiff’s 75,000 capacity Millennium Stadium was included in England’s original bid document as a tournament venue, but since then there has been intense debate as to how many pool games Wales should play at their ground.
England may not be at Twickenham, where they beat world champions New Zealand 38-21 on Saturday, for all their pool matches.
But England – and tournament chiefs for that matter – are unlikely to pass up the chance of a match between the Red Roses and the Wallabies being played in front of an 80,000 capacity crowd at ‘headquarters’.
It would seem extraordinary were England to play a pool match at a World Cup they are hosting beyond their borders, although something similar did happen in 2007 when hosts France beat New Zealand in a World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.
However, tournament organisers England Rugby 2015 refused to rule out the possibility that England may have to travel to Cardiff for a key pool clash.
Welsh support
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Roger Lewis, speaking at the draw, said: “It is very important to remember that Wales was included in England’s bid for matches in the Millennium Stadium.
“What was pencilled in (for the Millennium Stadium) was eight games and the Welsh government and Cardiff city council would provide financial support to the tune of £1.4 million.
“We would be very welcoming hosts. The discussions will now begin.
“I think they (England) would embrace the opportunity to play in the finest rugby stadium in the world.”
The Millennium Stadium is one of 17 venues on the ‘long list’ of venues for the 2015 World Cup and the final schedule is not expected to be announced until March.