Today marks exactly one year until the men's Rugby World Cup 2027 begins in Australia. The tournament kicks off on 1 October in Perth with a clash between Australia and Hong Kong China, culminating in the final on 13 November in Sydney.
Wales, currently ranked 11th in the world, will open their World Cup campaign against Zimbabwe in Adelaide on 2 October. Steve Tandy's side is drawn in Pool F, where they will also face Tonga in Melbourne and England in Sydney on 16 October.
The 2027 competition has expanded from 20 to 24 teams, with the number of pools increasing from four to six. The knockout phase will now feature 16 teams, with the top two from each pool and the four best third-placed nations advancing.
Before heading to Australia, Wales has a busy schedule of 12 or 13 potential matches. This includes Home Nations Championship games against Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in November, followed by five Six Nations matches in 2027.