The 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup is set to be hosted by Sydney's Accor Stadium at Homebush.
It was revealed on Thursday that the final will be part of New South Wales' roster of 13 matches during the tournament, the most of any Australian state.ย
While Sydney's ANZ Stadium and Newcastle's McDonald Jones Stadium are included, the centrepiece game will be held at the same venue where the Wallabies suffered a devastating loss to England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final.
โWhen you wind it back, one of the things that's great about hosting a major event in Australia is that you've got such competition between cities and venues to host, and you've got such great quality infrastructure here, which makes putting a tournament here so good,โ World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin told reporters in Sydney.
โAnd there was genuine competition for the biggest matches and fair play to Sydney and New South Wales for the way they conducted themselves.โ
Despite an initial campaign by the Victorian Government for the MCG to host the final, Melbourne was once again passed over. Instead, the Victorian capital will host seven pool matches and two last-16 clashes, following a last-minute agreement with World Rugby.
โYou've got to say that nine matches in Melbourne is fantastic,โ World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson told reporters in Sydney.ย
โIt wouldn't be the World Cup without going to the โG', so it's wonderful that we've got there and they're participating in a significant way in the tournament.โ
The tournament's opening match, featuring the Wallabies, will take place at Perth's Optus Stadium, with the city hosting seven other games.ย
Brisbane will stage 10 matches in total, but Suncorp Stadium's limited capacity of 52,000 means it will miss out on the headline events.ย
Meanwhile, Canberra has been left out completely, with no matches scheduled at the Brumbies' home stadium.
With Australia's last Rugby World Cup title coming in 1999 and their disappointing exit in the 2023 tournament at the group stage, the Wallabies players understand the significance of a successful World Cup on home soil for Australian rugby.
โI have vivid memories of being a young boy, living in country New South Wales with my family when Australia last held the tournament in 2003 and what that buzz was like for the local community,โ Wallabies captain Harry Wilson said in a statement.ย
โAs players, Rugby World Cup is certainly in the back of our minds, and we know the whole country will be right behind us in a little over two years' time.โ