The 11th edition of the Rugby World Cup is set to kick off on October 1, 2027, in Australia, featuring a record 24 teams. The tournament will be played over six weeks in seven cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Townsville, and Newcastle. The event is expected to smash attendance records, with over 2.5 million tickets available. World Rugby chief Brett Robinson expressed optimism, stating that the tournament is shaping up to be a "party like nothing on Earth."
Demand for tickets has been strong, with over 750,000 pre-sale tickets snapped up by fans from 135 countries. The most in-demand games so far have been Australia vs. New Zealand, England vs. Wales, Ireland vs. Scotland, and knockout phase clashes. The 2023 World Cup in France drew 2.4 million fans, and with more tickets available in Australia, that record is set to be broken. The next batch of tickets is due for release this week.
Hosting the World Cup is expected to be an economic windfall for Rugby Australia, which posted a significant operating surplus this year. Chairman Daniel Herbert said the event was a "generational opportunity," with the national body hoping to bank around Aus$100 million. The tournament will also feature a new format, with six pools of four teams instead of the traditional four pools of five teams.
The draw has been set, with defending champions South Africa facing Italy, Georgia, and Romania in Pool B. New Zealand, bidding for their first title since 2015, are pitted against Australia, Chile, and debutants Hong Kong in Pool A. South Africa's coach, Rassie Erasmus, emphasized the need for his team to be mentally and physically prepared for every match.
Other top teams have also been drawn in challenging pools. Ireland, ranked third, are in Pool D with Scotland, Uruguay, and Portugal. France, who have been runners-up three times, headline Pool E alongside Japan, USA, and Samoa. England, the 2003 champions, are in Pool F with Wales, Tonga, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament schedule has been designed to maximize attendance, with games clustered on weekends and the pool phase concluding in a Super Sunday on October 17. The quarter-finals will be hosted in Brisbane and Sydney, before the semi-finals and final are held at Stadium Australia on November 13.
The expanded format has been necessitated by the inclusion of 24 teams, with the four best third-placed teams also progressing to the knockout phase. With many top teams peaking at the right time, the tournament promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event.
Key points
- The Rugby World Cup will feature a record 24 teams and is expected to smash attendance records.
- The tournament will be played over six weeks in seven cities across Australia.
- Defending champions South Africa are again favorites to win the title.
