The 11th edition of the Rugby World Cup is set to kick off on October 1 next year in Australia, featuring a record 24 teams competing over six weeks. The tournament, expanded from 20 nations, is expected to smash attendance records. Seven cities will host the 52 games: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Townsville, and Newcastle. 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. World Rugby chief Brett Robinson expressed optimism, stating it's a "really good signal" and that the tournament will be "a party like nothing on Earth." The event is expected to be an economic windfall for Rugby Australia, which posted a significant operating surplus this year.
The 2023 World Cup in France drew 2.4 million fans, and with 2.5 million 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, as well as the women's tournament in 2029, is a "generational opportunity" for Rugby Australia, according to chairman Daniel Herbert.
Only four teams have won the World Cup: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and England. The dominant Springboks, who recently won a four-Test series against the All Blacks 3-1, are again favourites to win the title. They face Italy, Georgia, and Romania in Pool B, while the All Blacks, bidding for their first title since 2015, are pitted against Australia, Chile, and debutants Hong Kong in Pool A.
Rassie Erasmus's Springboks and Dave Rennie's All Blacks are taking nothing for granted, with Erasmus stating that there have been surprises in the tournament before. New Zealand captain Scott Barrett echoed this sentiment, saying that teams will need to peak at the right time to succeed.
Third-ranked Ireland are in Pool D with Scotland, Uruguay, and Portugal, while France headline Pool E alongside Japan, USA, and Samoa. England, the 2003 champions, are in Pool F with Wales, Tonga, and Zimbabwe. The draw has set up potential clashes between top-ranked teams, with the Springboks and All Blacks on a collision course for a last-eight clash.
Rugby Australia hopes to bank around Aus$100 million (US$70 million) from hosting the World Cup. With strong ticket sales and a lucrative 2025 tour by the British and Irish Lions, the national body is confident of a significant economic windfall. The tournament is expected to be a major event, with fans from around the world attending the games.
Key points
- The Rugby World Cup will feature a record 24 teams competing over six weeks in Australia.
- The tournament is expected to smash attendance records, with 2.5 million tickets available.
- The dominant Springboks are again favourites to win the title, but other teams are taking nothing for granted.
