Rugby World Cup draw LIVE updates as Wales learn opponents

Good morning and welcome to WalesOnline’s live coverage of the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, taking place in Sydney as the pools for the expanded global tournament are revealed.

It’s a huge moment for Steve Tandy's side as they discover the three nations who will stand between them and the knockout stages in Australia.

This World Cup will look very different to anything we’ve seen before. The competition has been expanded from 20 to 24 teams, creating six pools of four and opening the door for emerging nations to take their place on rugby’s biggest stage. For Wales, a narrow win over Japan last month proved vital, securing their place in Band 2 and ensuring they avoid any fellow second seeds in the opening round.

What they absolutely won’t avoid is a giant from Band 1 and today will reveal whether Wales land a dream draw or a nightmare one. Argentina are viewed as the most favourable top seed on paper, while a clash with reigning champions South Africa would be the stuff of sleepless nights after the Springboks’ recent demolition job in Cardiff.

Lower down the pots, Wales’ best-case scenario would involve Chile (Band 3) and Hong Kong (Band 4), while the trickier prospects include Georgia, who have pushed Wales hard in recent years, and Samoa, the island nation with a history of World Cup shocks.

We’ll bring you every moment of the draw as it happens, all the reaction, and what it means for Wales’ route through the tournament.
You can also watch the ceremony live via World Rugby’s YouTube channel.

The draw gets underway at around 9am UK time.

Otherwise,Scroll down for live updates...