- Western Australia to be showcased to the world as a host of the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027
- Perth to host seven matches, including the opening match featuring Australia's Wallabies
- Matches to be played at Perth Stadium in October 2027
- Supported by the Cook Labor Government
The largest sporting event in Western Australian history will be held in October 2027, as Perth prepares to host Men's Rugby World Cup matches, including the opening match featuring the Wallabies.
Taking place every four years, the Men's Rugby World Cup is the most prestigious rugby union event, and the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the Summer Olympics and FIFA World Cup.
In addition to the opening match, Perth will host four pool and two round of 16 matches at Perth Stadium, taking the total Western Australian matches to seven overall.
The arrival of the global tournament in Perth is expected to bring tens of thousands of out-of-State visitors to WA and inject millions into WA's economy - particularly for the opening match, which typically attracts enormous competition for tickets.
The Men's Rugby World Cup also generates enormous broadcast coverage, with the 2023 event achieving 1.33 billion viewing hours, making it the most-watched rugby event of all time.
Western Australia last hosted a Rugby World Cup match in 2003 at Subiaco Oval, when almost 43,000 fans packed into the historic venue to watch England take on South Africa's Springboks.
The confirmation that WA will host key matches of the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 comes amid the State's golden decade of rugby, which has seen Perth secure and host events such as the HSBC SVNS in January 2024 and 2025, the Wallabies vs Springboks blockbuster in August 2024, the British and Irish Lions tour match in June 2025, and the Bledisloe Cup in October 2025.
Hosting these global events also delivers long term benefits for the State, with the WA Government's Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 bid including a commitment for millions to be spent on community legacy programs and infrastructure upgrades for local sporting clubs, where teams competing at the tournament will also train.
Find out more at world.rugby
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"This isn't just an event - it's a defining moment for Perth and its future in the sporting world.
"When France hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2023, it brought more than 425,000 international visitors to their shores, generating approximately $1.4 billion for the nation's economy.
"This event means more jobs for WA, a stronger local economy, and a long-term boost to our global reputation as a sports destination."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Securing the opening match and seven matches of the world's third largest event solidifies Western Australia's position as a major global events destination.
"The Rugby World Cup 2027 will not only attract a significant influx of out-of-State visitors to WA, but it will also catapult Perth into the international spotlight, reaching millions through its gigantic broadcast audience.
"Being selected as the host for the opening match is testament to our status as a first-rate host of major events, and our relentless efforts to build that reputation and connect our State to the world through new aviation routes will pay off in spades when Perth takes centre stage for this prestigious event in 2027."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"Western Australia will be the centre of the sporting world in October 2027 when we host the Men's Rugby World Cup opening match.
"This monumental match will be the largest sporting event ever held in our State, and it is our world-class event and sporting infrastructure - developed over many years - that positions us perfectly to welcome elite rugby players to our shores.
"The Rugby World Cup 2027 is sure to be one for the history books, and the WA Government is thrilled to have secured such premium match content that will showcase our incredible city and transform the future of rugby in WA for generations to come."
