The 11th edition of the Rugby World Cup is set to kick off on October 1, 2027, in Australia, featuring a record 24 teams competing over six weeks. The tournament will be played in seven cities: 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.
The World Rugby chief, Brett Robinson, expressed optimism about the tournament, stating it's a "really good signal" and that they're "really optimistic and excited." He described the event as "a party like nothing on Earth." The tournament is expected to break attendance records, with 2.5 million tickets available, surpassing the 2.4 million fans who attended the 2023 World Cup in France.
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 in 2026. Chair Daniel Herbert said hosting the World Cup was a "generational opportunity," with the national body hoping to bank about Aus$100m.
The Springboks, current world No 1, are favourites to win the tournament, having recently defeated New Zealand 3-1 in their four-Test series. Rassie Erasmus's team faces Italy, Georgia, and Romania in Pool B. New Zealand, bidding for their first title since 2015, are in Pool A with Australia, Chile, and debutants Hong Kong.
Other top teams, including Ireland, France, England, and Wales, have also been drawn into competitive pools. Ireland faces Scotland, Uruguay, and Portugal in Pool D, while France headlines Pool E alongside Japan, the US, and Samoa. England, the 2003 champions, are in Pool F with Wales, Tonga, and Zimbabwe.
The event format has changed to accommodate 24 teams, with six pools of four teams instead of the traditional four pools of five. The schedule clusters games on weekends to maximise attendance, with the pool phase concluding in a Super Sunday on October 17 with five matches in a day.
The knockout phase will feature a first-ever round of 16, with pool winners and runners-up qualifying, as well as the four best third-placed teams. The quarterfinals will be split between Sydney and Brisbane, before the semis and final are held at Stadium Australia on November 13.
Key points
- The Rugby World Cup will feature a record 24 teams competing over six weeks in Australia.
- Over 750,000 pre-sale tickets have been snapped up by fans from 135 countries.
- The tournament is expected to break attendance records, with 2.5 million tickets available.
