Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh, Chair Daniel Herbert, and incumbent Wallabies captain Harry Wilson have reacted with overwhelming support and positivity after World Rugby’s confirmation of the host cities for the Men’s Rugby World Cup on Australian soil in 2027.
It was announced on Thursday that the world’s best 24 men’s teams will compete across seven locations across Australia, concluding with the Rugby World Cup final in Sydney. This event will be a six-week festival of rugby from the 1st of October to the 13th of November, 2027.
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Townsville will also host matches as this tournament marks the dawn of a new era for rugby. This will be the first time in Men’s RWC history that 24 teams compete, as opposed to as many as 16 nations.
Rugby fans out west will help get the World Cup underway with World Rugby announcing that the opening match will be played in Perth (Boorloo), as well as four additional pool fixtures and two round of 16 showdowns which will determine a couple of key quarter-final matchups.
Newcastle (Awabakal-Worimi) and Townsville (Gurambilbarra) will host four pool matches each, while sports fans in South Australia will get to see five fixtures in Adelaide (Tarntanya) during the first phase of the tournament.
Melbourne (Narrm) will stage nine matches across the tournament, which includes seven pool stage showdowns and two round of 16 eliminators. Also on the east coast, Brisbane (Meeanjin) is set to hold six pool matches, two round of 16 clashes, and two quarter-finals.
But the big winner from this announcement is Sydney (Gadigal), which will host five pool stage matches and eight knockout fixtures. Two quarter-finals, two semi-finals, the bronze final and the RWC final will all be played in the Harbour City.
With the tournament expected to inject more than $2 billion into the Australian economy, Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has spoken about how the positive impact of the tournament will be felt for many years ahead.
“This Rugby World Cup is among the planet’s biggest sporting events and Australia is incredibly excited to welcome the world to the 2027 edition,” Waugh said in a statement.
“Australia has a rich history of hosting major tournaments – indeed, we co-hosted the first ever rugby World Cup almost 40 years ago – and I have no doubt this event will captive and enthral the hundreds of thousands attending in-stadium and the hundreds of millions viewing around the world.
“A Rugby World Cup presents a unique opportunity for our country. From the positive economic impacts, to the energising of the fanbase, to the inspiration provided to the next generation of players, RWC 2027 will leave a legacy that will be felt in Australia for many years to come.
“And as for the players, representing your country at a home World Cup is the absolute pinnacle. Taking the field for the final in 2003 was among the greatest honours of my career and I am delighted this generation of Wallabies will have the privilege of experiencing the emotion, excitement and joy of pulling on the gold jersey before our passionate fans at a World Cup in (their) own backyard.”
After co-hosting the first-ever Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and then hosting it outright in 2003, this will be the third time that the men’s tournament has been played on Australian soil.
This is part of Australian rugby’s “golden decade” of events which also includes the British and Irish Lions Series this year, the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2029, and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
“Australia is renowned throughout the world for hosting outstanding global sporting events and I have no doubt the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will live up to those lofty standards,” Rugby Australia Chair Daniel Hebert explained.
“The opportunity for Australian rugby over the next few years with the British and Irish Lions visit, two World Cups and a home Olympics is truly extraordinary and one we are ready to build upon, with anticipated growth for grassroots and community rugby expected to reach unprecedented levels.
“The standard of rugby around the world at the moment is at an all-time high and Australian audiences will be right behind the Wallabies in what promises to be a fast, entertaining tournament in 2027. We are also excited to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 and wish the Wallaroos all the best for the 2025 edition in England.
“Rugby Australia thanks World Rugby, state and federal government partners, our sponsors and fans for supporting our bid to host the 2027 World Cup.”
Incumbent Wallabies captain Harry Wilson admits the draw of playing at a home Rugby World Cup in two years’ time “is certainly in the back of our minds” as players continue to look ahead to this year’s blockbuster three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
Australia showed signs of promise under coach Joe Schmidt in 2024, which included a promising run during their Spring Tour. The Wallabies snatched a thrilling 42-37 win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium and also got the better of Warren Gatland’s Wales.
While the Wallabies fell to both Scotland and Ireland to round out their first full campaign under coach Schmidt, the win over England in particular seemed to have a positive impact on rugby union Down Under – generating a genuine buzz ahead of big rugby events like RWC 2027.
“It’s hard to put into words how significant a Rugby World Cup on home soil is, and to have the host cities confirmed brings another level of excitement and anticipation,” Wilson added.
“I have vivid memories of being a young boy, living in country New South Wales with my family when Australia last held the tournament in 2003 and what that buzz was like for the local community.
“As players the World Cup is certainly in the back of our minds, and we know the whole country will be right behind us in a little over two years’ time.”
