Steve Tandy’s side were drawn in Pool F alongside their biggest and oldest rivals England, plus Tonga and Zimbabwe.
It means they have avoided the southern hemisphere heavyweights and their most likely opponents in the last 16 round appear to be Fiji, should Wales finish runners-up in their pool.
Even after that stage, the most likely quarter-final could be against France, with it being possible that Wales might avoid playing South Africa, New Zealand or hosts Australia until the semi-final stage.
Wales, seeded in the second tier for the expanded 24-team tournament, always knew a heavyweight opponent awaited them.
But avoiding giants such as South Africa and New Zealand offered some relief, with a reunion with England ensuring a match that will invoke hope as well as rivalry.
For the optimists, the draw will remind them of the 2015 Wales victory over England at Twickenham, which helped knock England out of their own tournament.
For the pessimists, the more recent 68-14 thrashing delivered by England in this year’s Six Nations is more relevant.
Tandy’s side will also meet Tonga, who can sometimes prove competitive on the world stage, and Zimbabwe, making their first World Cup appearance since 1991 as part of World Rugby’s push to widen the global reach of the competition.
With the format increasing from 20 to 24 teams, six pools of four have been created, setting up a range of eye-catching match-ups across the tournament.
Hosts Australia have been paired with New Zealand in Pool A, guaranteeing a fierce trans-Tasman opener in Perth on 1 October 2027.
Pool D renews another familiar rivalry as Ireland and Scotland are drawn together once more, joined by Uruguay and Portugal—both of whom impressed as underdogs at France 2023.
READ MORE: Wales and the Stormy Pools of World Cup History
Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong China
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
READ MORE: Wales Should Make World Cup Knockout Stages . . . as Draw Will Include New Round of 16
