Josh Adams wants a third World Cup. The Josh Adams World Cup plan now points to Australia next year, a country he has never visited, while he works his way back from a calf injury. He is 31. The pull of one more tournament is still strong.
It is exactly a year until Wales open their campaign against Zimbabwe in Adelaide on 2 October. Tonga and England complete the pool. Supporters can find the full breakdown in our World Cup pool guide.
Primary Source Attribution & Official Details
Adams was clear when asked about Australia 2027. “I’m desperate to go, but there is loads of rugby to be played and months ahead of us,” he said.
He has never been to Australia. That gap has stayed with him through his recovery. “I’ve never been to Australia, so that, as well as playing in a World Cup, is something I’m determined to do,” Adams said.
Adams gave those comments in a BBC interview. It also covered his recovery and his current training schedule.
Squad Impact & Tactical Context
Adams knows what a good World Cup looks like. He was the tournament’s top try scorer in 2019, with seven tries, as Wales reached the semi-finals in Japan. Four years later, in France, his involvement ended with a quarter-final defeat to Argentina.
A third tournament would complete a remarkable run. Adams says he feels just as excited now as he did before those earlier campaigns.
His fitness explains the caution behind that excitement. Adams was ruled out of Wales’ 43-0 defeat by South Africa in Durban in July with a calf injury. He has missed the start of Cardiff’s season as a result. “I had the calf injury in the summer, but I’ve been good for a while,” he said.
Wales have kept testing themselves this autumn, away from the World Cup picture. Their recent form is covered in our report on Wales progress in Japan.
What Happens Next / Upcoming Timeline
Adams is training again. He is taking a careful approach to his return. “I am training, but it’s important that you navigate your way through correctly and there’s no rush,” he said.
He expects to be fit for international duty next month. A return to Cardiff action is expected in October. From here, the Josh Adams World Cup story moves into a long build-up to Australia, with a year still to run before Wales face Zimbabwe.
