The Webb Ellis Cup is finally returning to Australia, though it’s very much up for grabs.
The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be staged in seven cities across Australia, details of which were announced today by World Rugby. Those host cities are Adelaide | Tarntanya, Brisbane | Meeanjin, Melbourne | Narrm, Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi, Perth | Boorloo, Sydney | Gadigal, and Townsville | Gurambilbarra.
Rugby hotbed Brisbane | Meeanjin will stage six pool matches, two round of 16 matches and two quarter-finals, while Sydney | Gadigal will host five pool matches and eight knockout matches, including the semi-finals and the final on November 13th.
Australia’s two-time World Cup champions the Wallabies are among 24 teams competing for rugby’s greatest prize, which kicks off October 1st and runs for six weeks.
The home nation typically enjoys a deep run in the World Cup, and the Wallabies’ long suffering fans will hope for this trend to continue. Australia last hosted the competition back in 2003, and made it all the way to the final when a drop kick in extra-time from England’s Jonny Wilkinson denied the home team.
Currently, the Wallabies are one of three national teams to win multiple tournaments (in 1991 and 1999), behind the Springboks of South Africa (with four) and the All Blacks of New Zealand (three).
Australia endured a dismal tournament in 2023, which saw them eliminated in the group stage for the very first time. With a new head coach and a young squad, Australia posted some promising results in 2024, including wins away against Argentina, England, and Wales.
The Wallabies are one of 12 teams already qualified for the RWC 2027, along with reigning champions South Africa, plus heavyweights New Zealand, England, France, Argentina and others. A dozen spots are there for the taking, and will be determined through the RWC 2027 global qualification process, starting January 31st in Europe.
The forthcoming Men’s RWC is projected to generate A$1.3 billion in direct visitor expenditure from more than 250,000 international visitors, and lift participation in a sport that’s competing for attention with cricket, basketball, Australian Rules, soccer, rugby league and the myriad games that Aussies play.
The full inventory of host venues and the location of where the host nation will play in the pool phase will be confirmed later in 2025.
Register for RWC tickets at rugbyworldcup.com/2027.