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Australia's Biggest Sporting Event Since Sydney 2000 Olympics

Rugby World Cup Experiences

Key Facts:

7 Host Cities - Expected to benefit from international tourism and visitor spending.

24 Teams - The first Men’s Rugby World Cup to feature an expanded 24-team format.

52 Matches - To be played across Australia during the tournament.


Media Release

For Immediate Release

13 November 2026

Australia’s Biggest Sporting Event Since Sydney 2000 Olympics

Sydney will once again claim the world sporting stage when it hosts the final of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 on the 13th of November, 2027.

Not since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games has Australia hosted an event of the scale, duration, international visitation, and national reach as the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

The significance of this historic sporting occasion - and the opportunities it presents for rugby union, tourism and hospitality, business, and the broader Australian economy - was the focus of a luncheon hosted by Rugby World Cup Experiences (RWCE) and Business Sydney for government and corporate supporters of the game, exactly one year and one day until the Final.

Attendees included former Australian PM Tony Abbott, former NSW Liberal Leader Kerry Chikarovski, ex-Wallaby Matt Giteau, Men’s Rugby World Cup (Australia) GM Michelle Enright, RWCE Account and Office Director Dom Ottery, and Business Sydney Executive Director, CEO Paul Nicolaou.

Delivering the luncheon’s keynote address, Mr Abbott said the Men’s Rugby World Cup came at a critical time.

“The event will bring tens of thousands of visitors to Australia. More importantly, it will showcase a great game and lead, I hope, to its revitalisation in this country,” he said.

Mr Giteau said: "I'm the only person to lose two World Cup finals. Johnny's field goal broke our hearts. In 2027, we have the chance to reverse that. However, there seems to be a real lack of confidence at the moment. The Wallabies’ camp keeps saying ‘we've got to learn from these losses’, but we need to start putting those learnings into action.

“Just because you dominate League it does not mean that you're going to kill Union. I hate that narrative because I love our sport, and our sport is not that easy. If the players want to come across and they're willing to learn and adapt, I'm all for it, especially if it's going to make the Wallabies better. But if it's just coming in for a money grab and then getting out, that's no good for our game.

“Winning and going deep into the tournament's going to make a huge difference. But then outside of that, encouraging the kids, giving back to the grassroots and just getting the sport popular and in front of people's faces a little bit more,” Mr Giteau said"

Mr Nicolaou said: “Not only will the tournament deliver a massive financial boost to the game itself and our economy, but I expect it will future proof the status of rugby union for years to come,” Mr Nicolaou said.

“What excites me most is to bear witness to the unifying power of rugby union. With every game played in next year’s tournament, there will be strong competition and rivalry.

“But there will also be great optimism, respect, and social connection. That’s what sport can do. It can quickly build culture and identity around common values and experiences. This relationship between rugby and fandom, between rugby and corporate Australia, between the Wallabies and the rest of world, has never faltered, even during the toughest of times.

“The opportunity now is to re-energise rugby union around a home Rugby World Cup, not only for the rusted on, loyal supporters like us, but also to introduce the game to a new legion of fans,” he said.

Mr Ottery has been involved in the last three Rugby World Cups.

“Next year’s Cup will deliver a rapid recalibration – perhaps even a rebirth - of the game in this country. Overseas people cannot believe that rugby union is not the dominant code in Australia,” Mr Ottery said.

“After winning gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, every young Australian wanted to be like Cathy Freeman and run. I expect the Rugby World Cup will have the same effect. It will inspire a new generation of Australians to pick up a rugby ball and play.

“There is an old adage that the biggest deals are always done on the golf course. I think the reality is deal-making has nothing really to do with the golf. It is simply the fact you are out of the boardroom, with your guard down, having genuine conversation and building long-term relationships. Sport has the power to do all of that.

“This isn't an annual event that you can always go to. This is something truly unique. It's on the same level the Olympics was in the 2000s. The special thing about a Rugby World Cup is that you can have memories that last a lifetime."

“Very promising for us is the demand coming out of the US, the third largest purchasing market and the biggest sports economy in the world, and obviously the next World Cup is hosted in the US,” he said.

Ms Chikarovski said: “I want to be part of making sure rugby regains its rightful position in this country as the number one sport for both participants and spectators. For anyone who's never been to a Rugby World Cup, you've got to go."

Ms Enright said: “The scale is extraordinary. Twenty-four teams, 52 matches, seven host cities, and more than 2.5 million tickets, and a forecasted 250,000 International Visitors, make this the largest edition of the tournament ever staged. The expanded format creates more rugby, more knockout matches and more opportunities for supporters and businesses to participate. It means the tournament will reach further across Australia and provide more ways for people to be part of it.”

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-Ends

For more information please contact: RoyceComm’s Richard Amos M: 0418 344 978, or Adi Stevens M: 0407 411 088

FAST FACTS

7 Host Cities - Expected to benefit from international tourism and visitor spending.

24 Teams - The first Men’s Rugby World Cup to feature an expanded 24-team format.

52 Matches - To be played across Australia during the tournament.

  • 1 October - 13 November 2027, Australia.
  • 2.5 million tickets available to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 tournament.
  • 250,000 International Visitors Forecast to travel to Australia during the six-week tournament period.
  • $1.3 Billion (AUD): Projected direct visitor expenditure across Australia.
  • Men’s Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan reached more than 857 million viewers globally.
  • Men's Rugby World Cup 2023 generated 1.33 billion viewing hours globally, making it the most viewed rugby event of all time.
  • Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 generated 4 billion social media impressions, more than any other rugby competition.
  • Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 generated €1.8 billion in total spending for France.
  • The tournament delivered a net €871 million economic benefit to France, attributed to international visitors.
  • Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 attracted 425,000 international visitors to France.
  • 2.4 million tickets were sold during Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023.
  • International visitors stayed an average of 10 days and spent approx. €170 per day.
  • World Cup 2023 generated 4.2 million international fan overnight stays in France.

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About us:

RWC EXPERIENCES INFORMATION

  • Rugby World Cup Experiences (RWCE) is the Official Provider of Premium Experiences and Travel for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
  • Guaranteed match tickets with Official Hospitality and Ticket + Hotel Packages for every match are available now, including the final and most in-demand matches.
  • Packages are available across the Pool Stage, Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Final, giving fans access throughout the entire tournament journey.
  • RWC Experiences promotional video can be seen here.

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Contact details:

RoyceComm, Richard Amos M: 0418 344 978, or Adi Stevens M: 0407 411 088