Australia enters the race to host 2027 Rugby World Cup

Rugby Australia has today signaled its intent to secure the hosting rights for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup and 2027 Rugby World Cup (Men's).

The Rugby Australia Board resolved to launch official bids for both the Women’s and Men’s tournaments on the day the code announced a new national women’s competition to kick off in 2018.

Australia hosted the men’s edition of the Rugby World Cup in 1987 (with New Zealand) and 2003 with great success, but has never hosted a Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Australia Chairman, Cameron Clyne said: “As we edge closer to the 15th anniversary of the last Rugby World Cup played in Australia, regarded by many as the greatest in the tournament’s history, we are excited to confirm that Rugby Australia will bid for the hosting rights for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2021 and the 2027 (Men’s) Rugby World Cup.


Rugby Australia will move immediately to establish a 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup bid team, chaired by a Rugby Australia Board member, to work with government and World Rugby to develop a tender for the bid.

The 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be ninth edition of the tournament, which was first contested in 1991 and has never previously been held in the southern hemisphere.

The Australian Women’s Rugby team, the Wallaroos, finished 6th at the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup played in Ireland earlier this year, an event which attracted record attendances and worldwide television audiences for the women’s game.

The Wallabies are one of only three national teams to have claimed the William Webb Ellis Cup as Rugby World Cup champions on multiple occasions.

Australia won the first of its two Rugby World Cups in England in 1991, repeating the feat eight years later in Wales. In 2003, our nation played host to arguably the greatest final in Rugby World Cup history which was won by England over the Wallabies courtesy of a Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal in extra time in front of a capacity Stadium Australia crowd.

Over 1.8 million spectators attended the 48 matches spread across 10 cities when Australia hosted the 2003 tournament. Throughout the six weeks of action, upwards of 70,000 international visitors converged on our shores, providing a $300 million injection for the local economy.

With France winning the right to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the tournament will be played in the northern hemisphere for the third consecutive edition. It is expected that World Rugby will set out the bid process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in 2019.