‘A defining moment’: Perth to host 2027 Rugby World Cup opening match

Rugby World Cup 2027
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Perth is officially taking centre stage on the world rugby map, with today’s announcement that the city will host the opening match of the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

Set to be played at Perth Stadium in October 2027, the blockbuster match will see Australia’s Wallabies kick off the tournament, marking “the largest sporting event in Western Australian history”, according to WA Premier Roger Cook​.

In total, Perth will host seven matches, including four pool games and two knockout clashes, bringing some of the world’s best teams to WA, with the event expected to draw tens of thousands of interstate and international visitors.

“This isn’t just an event – it’s a defining moment for Perth and its future in the sporting world,” said Premier Cook. “When France hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2023, it brought more than 425,000 international visitors to their shores, generating approximately $1.4 billion for the nation’s economy.”​

The news comes amidst a flurry of rugby action in Perth, including the Wallabies playing the Springboks last year and the HSBC SVNS wrapping up last weekend, with the British and Irish Lions Tour and Bledisloe Cup all to come.

Hosting the opening match of a Rugby World Cup is surely the biggest feather in WA’s sporting events cap though, with the competition happening only every four years, and widely regarded as the world’s third biggest sporting event behind the Summer Olympics and FIFA World Cup.

“Being selected as the host for the opening match is testament to our status as a first-rate host of major events,” said Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti. ““The Rugby World Cup 2027 will not only attract a significant influx of out-of-State visitors to WA, but it will also catapult Perth into the international spotlight, reaching millions through its gigantic broadcast audience.”​

While 2027 is a little while away, you can head to rugbyworldcup.com/2027 to register and be the first to hear about news and ticket availability.

Image Credit: Supplied/Getty