The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be contested across seven host cities in Australia, between October 1 and November 13.
It is the third time Australia has hosted or co-hosted rugby’s showpiece event with this, an expanded 24-team tournament featuring six groups of four teams competing in the pool stage, with a new round-of-16 added to the knock-out rounds.
Seven matches have been scheduled for Perth Stadium in October 2027, including four pool games, two round-of-16 clashes and the highly anticipated opening match.
Other host venues include Sydney’s 82,000-capacity Accor Stadium in Homebush which will stage both of the tournament’s semi-finals, the playoff for third and two quarter-finals.
Brisbane will host two quarter finals and two round-of 16 games as part of a 10-match schedule but it has missed out on staging any of the event’s biggest matches due to Suncorp Stadium’s capacity being only 52,500. Townsville will host four games.
Newcastle will host four pool matches while Adelaide will host five across the first phase of the tournament. Melbourne will hold a total of nine matches, including seven pool matches and two of the round-of-16 matches.
The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 is projected to inject more than $2 billion into the Australian economy and will establish long-term legacy programs for communities around the country.
The 2027 World Cup is an important part of Australian Rugby’s “golden decade” of events, which includes this year’s British and Irish Lions tour, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 and the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said the positive impacts from the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 would be felt for generations to come.
“The 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.
“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 captivate and enthrall 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 fan base, 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.”
Rugby Australia chair Daniel Herbert, a member of the 1999 World Cup-winning Wallabies, said Australia was ready to welcome the world in 2027.
“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,” Herbert said.
“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.”
Australian Hotels Association (WA) CEO Bradley Woods praised the WA Government for securing this globally renowned event, stating it will provide a major economic and reputational boost for the state’s hospitality sector.
“This is a landmark moment for Western Australia and an extraordinary opportunity for our hotel and hospitality industry to shine on the global stage,” he said.
“The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will attract tens of thousands of out-of-state and international visitors to Perth, filling our hotels, restaurants, bars and tourism attractions. The expected demand for accommodation, dining and entertainment will provide an enormous injection into the local economy, creating jobs and strengthening businesses across the hospitality sector.”
Seven matches are scheduled for Perth Stadium in October 2027, including four pool games, two round-of-16 clashes and the opening match broadcast to a global audience.
“The Rugby World Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the world, and Perth’s selection as a host city demonstrates our growing reputation as a premier destination for major global events. This announcement is a testament to the strength of our local hospitality and tourism sectors, which are ready to deliver world-class experiences for visitors,” Woods said.
“Not only will this tournament deliver immediate economic benefits, but the legacy of hosting the Rugby World Cup will elevate WA’s profile as a destination for international visitors. This will lead to ongoing opportunities for our hotels and hospitality industry well beyond 2027.”
Rugby fans will have plenty of chances to pull on the green and gold, with Queensland scoring 14 games.
The tournament breakdown will see 10 games played at Brisbane Stadium (Lang Park) featuring six pool matches, two round-of-16 games and two quarter finals. North Queensland Stadium in Townsville has been awarded four pool matches.
The Men’s Rugby World Cup is the third largest sporting event in the world, trailing only the Summer Olympics and the Men’s FIFA World Cup.
“Queensland will be front-and-centre of the action come 2027 and it’s exciting to know North Queensland fans will also have the opportunity to watch world-class rugby in Townsville during the tournament,” Powell said.
“This will be six weeks of sporting heaven for rugby fanatics and a terrific boost for local hotels, restaurants, bars and tourism operators, along with sporting clubs who are able to host pre-competition preparation camps.
“The tournament is set to generate more than $212 million in visitor spend for the state’s economy and put the eyes of the world on Queensland less than five years before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games transform our state forever.”
