Thursday, 1st October officially marks 365 days until rugby’s largest tournament kicks off on Australian shores, and all signs are pointing to the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup being the largest yet.
Festivities to celebrate the one-year milestone are set to take place across the country today, with World Rugby revealing demand for the event has been strong, with over 1.3 million tickets of the 2.5 million tickets available already sold.
Watch every second of the 2027 Rugby World Cup live and on demand via Stan Sport.
With fans from over 164 countries set to arrive on Australian shores, the remaining tickets are set to go on sale from 12:00 pm AEST today, giving fans the chance to still be part of a once-in-a-generation event.
Currently, over 250,000 fans are set to arrive on Australian shores, making the Rugby World Cup Australia’s biggest sporting event since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Not only that, but the event is also set to bring in over $1.3 billion into the Australian economy through visitor expenditure and events, putting it in contention to be the most lucrative Rugby World Cup.
“In just 365 days, Australia will welcome the world for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, a landmark tournament that coincides with the competition's 40th anniversary and promises to be the biggest and most accessible celebration of rugby ever staged,” World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said.
"The expanded format marks the beginning of a new era for our sport. With 24 teams and 52 matches for the first time, alongside the introduction of a round of 16, more nations will have the opportunity to compete, progress and shine on rugby's biggest stage, supporting the expansion of our global game and bringing even greater drama and excitement to fans around the world.
"Beyond the six weeks of competition, Australia 2027 will leave a lasting legacy for the host nation, the Oceania region and our global membership.
“As rugby's premier event, Rugby World Cup is a powerful catalyst for growth, inspiring new generations of players, fans and volunteers, while generating revenues that World Rugby reinvests in the game in full.”
With the matches set to take place across the entire country in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle, Perth and Townsville, the Rugby World Cup will not only showcase the sport across Australia’s wide national footprint, but offer fans from all over the world ample opportunity to see their favourite teams.
"Today marks an important milestone as we enter the final year of preparations for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027,” Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 Managing Director Chris Stanley added.
“Thanks to strong collaboration across governments, Host Cities and tournament partners, the foundations are in place to deliver an extraordinary tournament and a uniquely Australian experience that showcases the country's world-class venues, rich culture, welcoming communities and proven ability to host major global events.
"With over half of all tickets available already secured by supporters from 164 countries, the excitement building across Australia and around the world is clear. We are particularly excited to see so many younger fans engaging with the tournament, reflecting the unique opportunity Australia 2027 has to inspire the next generation of players and fans."
"This competition belongs to everyone, from the players who dream of competing on rugby's biggest stage, to the volunteers, communities, partners and supporters who will help bring it to life. We look forward to uniting fans from around the world next year and encourage supporters everywhere to secure their place and be part of a celebration that will create memories to last a lifetime."
“This will be the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever staged,” David McCallum, General Manager of Rugby World Cup Experiences, added.
“The scale is extraordinary. Twenty-four teams, 52 matches, seven host cities, and more than 2.5 million tickets make this the largest edition of the tournament ever staged.
“What excites me is that 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.
“Rugby World Cup 2027 will be Australia’s biggest business opportunity in sport because few events can combine global attention, premium audiences, six weeks of relationship-building and the best of Australia on this scale.
“Those figures demonstrate this is far more than a sporting event.
“It is a major tourism, economic and business opportunity for Australia. Visitors will not simply travel to one city, attend one match and leave. Many will move between host cities, stay for extended periods and build dining, tourism and cultural experiences around the rugby.
“The economic benefits will be felt it at airports, in hotels, restaurants, bars, tourism attractions and business venues across the country.
“For Australian rugby, I hope the tournament reconnects people with the game, inspires a new generation and creates momentum that continues well beyond the Final.
“For everyone involved, I hope we have delivered an event that made Australians proud and gave visitors an experience of the country they will never forget.”
