Australia: Men's Rugby World Cup 2027
The wait is over — rugby’s greatest tournament comes to Australia in 2027, and the host nation will get it all under way. Two-time champions Australia carry the hopes of a nation into Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, and they have a blockbuster pool to navigate. Here is your complete guide.
1. Australia’s Rugby World Cup history
Australia are one of the sport’s heavyweights, lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 1991 and again in 1999 to become the first nation to win the tournament twice. They also reached the final in 2003 on home soil and again in 2015.
Now they host the tournament for the first time since that famous 2003 edition, with the opening match in Perth | Boorloo kicking off a new era for a home Rugby World Cup.
2. Australia’s Pool A fixtures: who, where and when
Here is where and when Australia play, with all kick-off times in local Australian time:
● Australia v Hong Kong China — Perth Stadium, Perth | Boorloo — Friday, 1 October, 2027 — kick-off 18:45 local (opening match)
● Australia v New Zealand — Stadium Australia, Sydney | Wangal — Saturday, 9 October, 2027 — kick-off 17:10 local
● Australia v Chile — Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane | Meeanjin — Saturday, 16 October, 2027 — kick-off 15:10 local
Australia launch the whole tournament against debutants Hong Kong China in Perth | Boorloo. Then comes the one the country has circled: Australia v New Zealand at the 82,000-capacity Stadium Australia in Sydney | Wangal, the first time the trans-Tasman rivals have met in a World Cup pool stage. They finish against a spirited Chile in Brisbane | Meeanjin.
3. Players to watch
Captain and number eight Harry Wilson leads from the front, backed by the ball-carrying power of Rob Valetini and the openside menace of Fraser McReight. Up front, Angus Bell and the towering Will Skelton bring genuine set-piece muscle.
In the backline, Tom Wright and Len Ikitau offer pace and precision. With home advantage and a passionate crowd behind them, this group has every incentive to peak in October.
4. Current form: where Australia stand
A new era is under way, and it has begun brightly. Les Kiss took charge as head coach in mid-2026, succeeding Joe Schmidt, and has made an unbeaten start in the job.
After Schmidt signed off with a 57-10 win over Italy, Kiss guided Australia to home-and-away wins over Japan, then a first-ever series victory in Argentina — edging the opening Test 27-21 before a 28-28 draw sealed the Puma Trophy. With South Africa and the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand still to come in 2026, momentum is building before a home World Cup.
5. Back the tournament with Gilbert
Gilbert designed the official match ball for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, and the Rugby World Cup 2027 Replica Ball brings that same iconic design to your back garden, your club, or the trophy shelf. Explore the full Rugby World Cup collection, and keep an eye out — our Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 range is growing, with more tournament and nation product landing through the season.
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More from the Gilbert news hub: Want the story behind the ball every side will play with in Australia? Read Everything You Need to Know: The RWC 2027 Ball, and follow the news hub as we profile all 24 nations heading to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
