Australia step up to hold rugby showpiece

Article posted by Coliseum, May 24^th, 2021

Image: Rugby Australia

Following a bid being launched in Sydney (Australia) on May 20^th with a rally cry of ‘Game On’, Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said that staging the 2027 World Cup would be a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.

‘The Guardian’ stated that the bid projects that if the 2027 tournament is awarded to Australia, there will be over 200,000 international visitors and over two million people attending the same. It will also prove to be a shot in the arm for the economy with a total financial output, both direct and indirect, of $2.5bn forecast for the event, in which 20 nations would take part and 48 matches over seven weeks and will be played at between eight and 10 facilities.

Sydney (Australia)-headquartered Rugby Australia Limited, previously named the Australian Rugby Union Limited and Australian Rugby Football Union Limited, is an Australian company operating the premier rugby union competition in Australia and teams. It has its origins in 1949. It is a member of World Rugby.

World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organizes the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport’s most recognized and most profitable competition.

‘The Guardian’ quoted McLennan as stating, “Hosting Rugby World Cup 2027 is a once-in-a generation opportunity for Australia, which would drive substantial economic outcomes for our country, while also providing a lasting legacy for rugby in this region. It would also allow us to support the Australian Government’s ambitions around major events in what is shaping up to be a green and gold decade for the nation with an assembly line of events – from the FIBA Women’s World Cup in 2022, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022, FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, Netball World Cup in 2027, and the exciting potential of an Olympic Games in Queensland in 2032.”

Rugby Australia is presently in talks with World Rugby and will move into a candidate phase from June, when they will construct their detailed bid proposal. An evaluation phase commences in February 2022, with the World Rugby Council voting on the hosts in May next year.

Phil Kearns, Executive Director of the Australian bid, remarked, “Hosting Rugby World Cup 2027 would be a transformational moment for the game in this country and the Pacific, presenting an enormous opportunity to grow the game.”

Australia co-hosted the inaugural World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and was sole host of the 2003 edition, when the Wallabies (Australia national rugby union team) were beaten by England in the final.

“I still remember the 2003 tournament and what it meant for Australia at the time, the atmosphere and vibe around the game was incredible,” Wallabies’ captain and flanker Michael Hooper said.

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