Stadiums Confirmed for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia

The eight stadiums that will host Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 matches across seven cities in Australia have been officially confirmed.

The tournament, which has been expanded to feature 24 teams, will begin with the opening match at the 60,000-seat capacity Perth Stadium on October 1, 2027. Meanwhile, the final will be held at the 82,000-seat capacity Stadium Australia in Sydney | Wangal on November, 13 2027.

Five venues that hosted games at the last Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003 remain on the list, including Adelaide Oval and Brisbane Stadium.

Docklands Stadium in Melbourne | Narrm is the only venue with a retractable roof, which will remain closed for all matches, while the 25,000-seat capacity North Queensland Stadium in Townsville | Gurambilbarra will make its Rugby World Cup debut next year. Newcastle Stadium and Sydney Football Stadium complete the line-up.

Sydney | Gadigal is the only city to feature two Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 venues, while Adelaide will host six pool matches and Melbourne will welcome six pool matches plus two round-of-16 contests.

“The selection of these stadiums reflects not only Australia’s proud rugby legacy but also our unwavering commitment to creating an unforgettable Rugby World Cup experience for every fan,” said Chris Stanley, managing director of Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. “From iconic national arenas to vibrant regional hubs, each venue has been chosen for its ability to deliver world-class facilities and electric atmospheres that will showcase the very best of our game.

“These stadiums are more than just places to play, they are stages for history, where passion and community come together to celebrate rugby’s global spirit. Today marks another exciting milestone on the journey to Australia 2027, and we cannot wait to welcome fans from across the world to experience the magic of this tournament in every corner of our country.”

Host Cities and Venues

Adelaide | Tarntanya

• Venue: Adelaide Oval
• Capacity: 53,000
• Matches: Six pool matches

Brisbane | Meeanjin

• Venue: Brisbane Stadium
• Capacity: 52,500
• Matches: Six pool matches, two round-of-16 and two quarter-finals

Melbourne | Narrm

• Venue: Docklands Stadium
• Capacity: 53,000
• Matches: Six pool matches and two round-of-16

Newcastle | Awabakal-Worimi

• Venue: Newcastle Stadium
• Capacity: 30,000
• Matches: Four pool matches

Perth | Boorloo

• Venue: Perth Stadium
• Capacity: 60,000
• Matches: Five pool matches (including the opening) and two round-of-16

Sydney | Wangal & Gadigal

• Venue: Stadium Australia
• Capacity: 82,000
• Matches: Two pool matches, two quarter-finals, two semi-finals, Bronze Final and Final

• Venue: Sydney Football Stadium
• Capacity: 42,500
• Matches: Three pool matches and two round of 16

Townsville | Gurambilbarra

• Venue: North Queensland Stadium
• Capacity: 25,000
• Matches: Four pool matches

Draw Results

The draw for the pool stages of the eleventh edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 in Australia took place in Sydney last month.

In some noteworthy ties, hosts Australia will face off against trans-Tasman rivals and three-time winners, New Zealand, in Pool A, while England and Wales [Pool F] and Ireland and Scotland [Pool D] have been paired in the same pools. South Africa, the winners of the last two tournaments and the world’s top-ranked team, will face off against Italy, Georgia and Romania.

Meanwhile, the USA will come up against France, Japan and Samoa, before it becomes the first North American nation to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031 [the Men’s Rugby World Cup] and 2033 [the Women’s World Cup].

Hong Kong China will also make their Men’s Rugby World Cup debut in 2027, when they will compete in the same pool as New Zealand, Australia and Chile.

Expanded Format for 2027

In some significant milestones, the 2027 tournament has been rebranded as the Men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time, and its format has been expanded to feature 24 teams [up from 20 in France in 2023] across six pools of four. In addition, a last-16 knockout round has been added to the schedule.

World Rugby said that the expanded format is designed to break down barriers and make the game more accessible to fans around the world.

Match Schedule and Ticket Prices

The match schedule and ticket prices will be announced on February 3, 2026, and fans will have the opportunity to secure tickets during an exclusive two-week Presale starting on February 18. Fans will need to create a Men’s Rugby World Cup ticketing account at this link before February 17 to be eligible to enter the Presale.