Australia was chosen to be the host of the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups!
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Great news, Rugby fanatics! A recent announcement revealed that Australia was chosen to host the men's 2027 and women's 2029 Rugby World Cups in a game-changer for the cash-strapped code Down Under – and we’re as thrilled as we can ever be!
The World Rugby Council officially granted the country staging rights for the two global showpieces after a final vote was made in Dublin on Thursday. Australia has been predicted to score both tournaments after previously capturing the preferred host status in the streamlined bid process.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge beamed in dazzling green and gold at 6pm in anticipation of the decision.
Image Credit: ICMC
Wallabies icon Tim Horan, who is also a two-time World Cup winner, took to Twitter and wrote that the announcement marked “the most significant moment in Australian rugby history since winning the RWC in 1991 that put rugby on the map in Oz”.
The forecast came after the organisation contemplated regressing back to amateur status as it recorded a net deficit of $27.1 million for 2020, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rugby Australia (RA) boss Andy Marinos estimated how the two World Cups could raise around $50 to $60 million for the cash-strapped governing body.
“It sets us up for what I think is going to be a golden age of rugby in this country,” RA president David Codey said.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper along with Wallaroos skipper Shannon Parry added that hosting the two events could inspire a new generation of young players.
“It's pretty special,” Hooper said. “The runway from this all comes together in the next 10 years of rugby. Not only with these World Cups but the (Brisbane 2032) Olympics with rugby's involvement in the Olympics and what that looks like.”
“It's a pretty good time to be a young rugby player.”
Image Credit: Mashable
Josephine Sukkar, who is the president of Australian Women's Rugby, added that “the impact of what this means, not just for Australia but for the region” couldn't be overstated.
“The legacy this will create for Australia – an increase in participants. We expect more than 30,000 more men and women to participate in the game,” Sukkar said.
Parry anticipates that hosting a women's World Cup in Australia for the first time would entice numerous young girls to the game, the same way the women's Sevens team did after their triumph at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Off the back of 2016, it really created a pathway and a bit of a legacy for these young girls to aspire to,” Parry continued.
“To think, we've got a Commonwealth Games as well (in Victoria in 2026). It's a massive pathway and trajectory to get girls into rugby. It's really exciting. If you're 15, 16, come five, six, seven years time, you're probably going to be in that Wallaroos team.”
On the other hand, the 2027 men's edition will come 24 years after the Wallabies reached the finals the last time Australia hosted the tournament.
It’s expected to feature a span of eight to ten match venues while the other locations will serve as training bases. The art, wine, and food trails are set to reel in the tourists who prefer more from their experience than rugby.
The highly awaited 2027 event is expected to draw in over two million people across seven weeks of the competition and generate a $2.5 billion boost for the economy.
And to add to that, organisers shared that the opportunity would provide 13,300 jobs and stimulate $500 million in new trade and investment.
The back-to-back World Cups in Australia will follow the 2023 RWC in France and the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2025.
What are your thoughts on this announcement? Are you a fan of rugby? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Watch a teaser video for the Rugby World Cup to be held in 2027 and 2029 below:
Video Credit: Rugby.com.au
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