Australian Government supports scoping work ahead of potential 2027 Rugby World Cup bid

Rugby Australia has today welcomed funding from the Australian Government to support scoping work ahead of the bid process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

With Rugby Australia considering a bid for the third largest sporting event on the globe, which it last hosted in 2003, Rugby Australia Chief Executive Raelene Castle today stated “Rugby Australia is most grateful and extremely pleased to receive this support from the Australian Government for our foundation planning phase.

“As a country, we are fortunate to have strong support from governments that recognise the importance of hosting major events and what they can deliver, which was recognised in the Sports 2030 Plan and Sports Diplomacy 2030 Plan.

“We were fortunate to receive strong support last year from the Australian Government for our Women’s Rugby World Cup Bid and we welcome the support provided today which will enable us to undertake important scoping work this year, in partnership with Australian Government agencies, around the viability and strategy for a bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

“The Rugby World Cup is one of the greatest sporting events in the world and is known for bringing fans from many different countries for a celebration of everything that is great about rugby.”

The formal bid process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup is expected to commence in mid-2020 and run through to November 2021.

Modelling for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which will take place in Japan between 20th September 2019 and 2nd November 2019 estimates that the 44-day Rugby World Cup 2019 will generate a record total output of around £2.97 billion for the Japanese economy, attract up to 400,000 international visitors and support up to 25,000 jobs.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup in England generated economic output of around US$3 billion, contributed an additional US$1.4 billion to GDP, created 34,000 jobs and attracted 400,000 tourists.

The tournament had an estimated global TV audience of over 4 billion viewers.

Highlighting Australia’s credentials to host the event, Castle added “Australia is a great sporting nation and hosting RWC 2027 would be another proud chapter in Australia’s rich sporting history of delivering global major events. We look forward to working with Australian Government agencies over the coming months before the official process kicks off next year."

Australia last hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2003 when the Wallabies fell to England in the now famous Final at ANZ (then Telstra) Stadium.

Last November, Australia lost out to New Zealand in a bid to host the ninth Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2021.

Image: Johnny Wilkinson breaks Australian hearts as he kicks to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final for England at Sydney's ANZ (then Telstra) Stadium.