Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Schedule unveiled
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney will host the first-ever round of 16, with Sydney staging the semi-finals and the 13 November final at Stadium Australia.
Captains photoshoot photo by World Rugby.
By Mahlon Lichuma
The full match schedule for the Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027 has been released, confirming dates, venues and kick-off times for all 52 games across the expanded 24-team tournament.
To mark the announcement, former Wallabies captain and Rugby World Cup winner John Eales, together with Australia’s Joseph Suaalii, took the Webb Ellis Cup to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, joined by 24 young rugby representatives symbolising each competing nation.
The 2027 edition will be the first to feature 24 teams, delivering more matchdays and greater global reach. Hosts Australia open the tournament on 1 October in Perth | Boorloo, facing debutants Hong Kong China in a historic curtain-raiser.
The Wallabies will later feature in Sydney | Gadigal and Brisbane | Meeanjin during the pool phase.
Reigning champions South Africa begin their title defence on 3 October in Adelaide | Tarntanya against Italy, while Zimbabwe make a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage at the same venue.
The schedule emphasises weekend fixtures to maximise attendance, featuring 19 matchdays and only two Mondays of play. A historic “Super Sunday” on 17 October will close the pool phase with five matches on a single day.
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney will host the first-ever round of 16, with Sydney staging the semi-finals and the 13 November final at Stadium Australia.
Highlighted Fixtures – Pool Phase
Pool A
• Australia vs Hong Kong China – 1 Oct, Perth Stadium
• New Zealand vs Chile – 2 Oct, Perth Stadium
• New Zealand vs Australia – 9 Oct, Stadium Australia, Sydney
• Chile vs Hong Kong China – 15 Oct, Townsville
• New Zealand vs Hong Kong China – 17 Oct, Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Pool B
• South Africa vs Italy – 3 Oct, Adelaide Oval
• Georgia vs Romania – 3 Oct, Townsville
• South Africa vs Georgia – 10 Oct, Brisbane
• Italy vs Portugal – 11 Oct, Sydney
• South Africa vs Romania – 17 Oct, Perth
Pool C
• Fiji vs Spain – 8 Oct, Newcastle
• Argentina vs Canada – 10 Oct, Brisbane
• Fiji vs Canada – 11 Oct, Adelaide
• Argentina vs Spain – 15 Oct, Melbourne
• Spain vs Canada – 17 Oct, Townsville
Pool D
• Scotland vs Uruguay – 3 Oct, Melbourne
• Ireland vs Portugal – 11 Oct, Sydney
• Ireland vs Scotland – 16 Oct, Perth
• Scotland vs Portugal – 17 Oct, Brisbane
Pool E
• France vs USA – 2 Oct, Melbourne
• Japan vs Samoa – 5 Oct, Adelaide
• USA vs Samoa – 11 Oct, Newcastle
• France vs Japan – 15 Oct, Perth
• Japan vs USA – 16 Oct, Adelaide
• France vs Samoa – 17 Oct, Sydney
Pool F
• Wales vs Zimbabwe – 2 Oct, Adelaide
• England vs Tonga – 3 Oct, Brisbane
• England vs Zimbabwe – 9 Oct, Adelaide
• Tonga vs Zimbabwe – 15 Oct, Townsville
• England vs Wales – 16 Oct, Sydney
Knockout phase highlights
The Round of 16 will be played from 23 to 24 October across Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Quarter-finals follow on 30 and 31 October in Brisbane and Sydney. The semi-finals, bronze final and the final will all be staged in Sydney at Stadium Australia, culminating with the title decider on 13 November 2027.
Designed with balanced travel and sufficient rest for teams, the schedule also maximises weekend fixtures to enhance fan attendance and global engagement.
With more teams, more cities, and a broader global footprint, the 2027 tournament is shaping up as one of the most dynamic and far-reaching editions in Rugby World Cup history.
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