Wales savour 'absolutely special' Adelaide stop as World Cup countdown hits 500 days

Wales stepped inside Adelaide Oval last Friday as their Rugby World Cup 2027 venue visits continued, meeting AFL side Adelaide Crows and getting an early feel for what awaits them in Australia.

For head coach Steve Tandy, the scale of the 53,000-capacity stadium and the crossover with Australian codes left an immediate impression.

“To see the skills and the vastness of the space they’ve got to cover, it’s incredible. And the stadium is absolutely amazing,” said Tandy. “Speaking to the guys, the crowds they get, it’s an amazing atmosphere. It’s absolutely special and we can’t wait to come back here to play.”

“It’s definitely different. It’s a little bit smoother, but you can see the skills they’ve got — the aerial catch and the kicking is amazing. The ball is slightly different… similar shape, but definitely a little bit heavier.”

Tandy expects both the squad and travelling support to embrace the challenge of a long-haul tournament.
“I think they’ll be excited. There’ll be lots of support for Wales. Coming to Australia, it’s an amazing spot. I lived here for two years in Sydney, so it’s special for me as well. The players will love every minute of it.”

“There are challenges. Getting the travel right because there are different time zones within Australia, and the amount of travel to and from training. But with the facilities you’ve seen, we’ll be very lucky. All the venues look amazing.”

Exposure to rugby league and AFL environments has also shaped his thinking.

“I’ve gone into Melbourne Storm a hell of a lot of times, which has been amazing learning around the contact and the mindset. Meeting guys from Richmond and Collingwood, the way they teach in the AFL was really inspiring. There’s lots of learnings from different codes.”

“You can feel the excitement and what it means to play here. You see the buzz as everything ramps up. Everyone loves playing here and being part of Adelaide.”

Tandy also underlined the expected Welsh presence.

“The Welsh fans are amazing, they travel really well. If we can replicate anything like Cardiff, it will be really inspiring. The more red shirts you get in these venues, it makes a huge difference.”

Former Wales captain Martyn Williams, who toured Australia in 2003, expects that support to be felt again.
“2003 was a highlight of my career, one of the best trips I went on. Australia is such an amazing place to come and play — they put on unbelievable events,” said Williams.

“Even though we were based in Canberra, we were in Melbourne, Sydney, up to Brisbane — the following we get as a Welsh team is incredible. I’m sure 2027 will be another level again.”

“We’re lucky — our fans are so passionate. Wherever we go in the world, we have a huge following. There’s a lot of expats in Australia as well, so whether it’s Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney, I’m sure we’ll have fantastic support. We don’t really have to ask — they’ll be there in numbers.”

“With a young team building towards ’27, we can’t wait to get to Australia and I’m sure the supporters will follow.”

For Huw Bennett, who has experienced the tournament as both player and coach, the focus is on embracing the occasion early.

“It’s the pinnacle of any player’s and coach’s career,” said Bennett. “I’ve been lucky enough to play in three World Cups and coach in three — on both sides of the fence it’s a fantastic experience.”

“We’ve got a young group. There’s an element of naivety but real excitement. It’s making sure when we come to Adelaide as our first stop-off, the boys get into it straight away and enjoy everything, not just on the field.”

“Australia is fantastic — not just on game day but the buzz around the tournament. I’m sure it’ll be the same as 2003. It’s still over a year away, but being here now, you can feel how exciting it’s going to be.”