The Men's Rugby World Cup comes back to Australia in 2027, for the first time since 2003. It is the biggest edition yet, with 24 teams and 52 matches spread across seven cities, a country about 4,000 km wide and four different local times. Planning matters more than usual. This guide covers where and when every key match is played, how to follow your team between cities, tickets, visas, the weather and staying connected once you land.
- Dates: Friday 1 October to Saturday 13 November 2027
- Opening match: Australia v Hong Kong China, Perth Stadium, 1 October
- Final: Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium), Sydney, 13 November
- Host cities: Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Townsville
- Format: 24 teams in six pools of four, then a new round of 16
- Tickets: from A$40 for adults and A$20 for children, on the official tournament site
Rugby World Cup 2027 host cities and stadiums
Eight stadiums will host matches. Sydney has two, including the 82,000-seat Stadium Australia, which hosts both semi-finals and the final. Melbourne's MCG is not on the list. Melbourne's games are at Docklands Stadium (Marvel Stadium) instead.
Venues use neutral names during the tournament, so your tickets may say "Brisbane Stadium" rather than "Suncorp Stadium". Both names are shown below.
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Stadium AustraliaAccor Stadium | 82,000 | Final, both semi-finals, bronze final, 2 quarter-finals, 2 pool matches |
| Sydney | Sydney Football StadiumAllianz Stadium | 42,500 | 3 pool matches, 2 round-of-16 matches |
| Perth | Perth StadiumOptus Stadium | 60,000 | Opening match, 4 more pool matches, 2 round-of-16 matches |
| Brisbane | Brisbane StadiumSuncorp Stadium | 52,500 | 6 pool matches, 2 round-of-16 matches, 2 quarter-finals |
| Melbourne | Docklands StadiumMarvel Stadium | 53,000 | 6 pool matches, 2 round-of-16 matches |
| Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | 53,000 | 6 pool matches |
| Newcastle | Newcastle StadiumMcDonald Jones Stadium | 30,000 | 4 pool matches |
| Townsville | North Queensland StadiumQueensland Country Bank Stadium | 25,000 | 4 pool matches |
Rugby World Cup 2027 pools
The draw was made in December 2025. The top two in each pool go through to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams.
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Chile
- Hong Kong China
- South Africa
- Italy
- Georgia
- Romania
- Argentina
- Fiji
- Spain
- Canada
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Uruguay
- Portugal
- France
- Japan
- USA
- Samoa
- England
- Wales
- Tonga
- Zimbabwe
Key dates and matches not to miss
Follow your team: pool-stage routes
Teams move city to city every week, often across thousands of kilometres. Here is where the major nations play in the pool stage, so you can plan flights and hotels around them.
| Team | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1 Oct v Hong Kong ChinaPerth | 9 Oct v New ZealandSydney | 16 Oct v ChileBrisbane |
| New Zealand | 2 Oct v ChilePerth | 9 Oct v AustraliaSydney | 15 Oct v Hong Kong ChinaMelbourne |
| England | 2 Oct v TongaBrisbane | 8 Oct v ZimbabweAdelaide | 16 Oct v WalesSydney |
| Wales | 2 Oct v ZimbabweAdelaide | 8 Oct v TongaMelbourne | 16 Oct v EnglandSydney |
| Ireland | 4 Oct v PortugalSydney | 10 Oct v ScotlandPerth | 17 Oct v UruguayMelbourne |
| Scotland | 3 Oct v UruguayMelbourne | 10 Oct v IrelandPerth | 17 Oct v PortugalBrisbane |
| South Africa | 3 Oct v ItalyAdelaide | 10 Oct v GeorgiaBrisbane | 17 Oct v RomaniaPerth |
| France | 2 Oct v USAMelbourne | 9 Oct v JapanBrisbane | 17 Oct v SamoaSydney |
| Argentina | 4 Oct v CanadaBrisbane | 10 Oct v SpainMelbourne | 16 Oct v FijiAdelaide |
| Fiji | 4 Oct v SpainNewcastle | 10 Oct v CanadaAdelaide | 16 Oct v ArgentinaAdelaide |
| Japan | 3 Oct v SamoaNewcastle | 9 Oct v FranceBrisbane | 15 Oct v USAAdelaide |
Dates from the official match schedule released in February 2026. Kick-off times are local, so check them against the time zones below.
Planning tip: Ireland and Scotland fans face the longest hops, Sydney to Perth to Melbourne for Ireland. If your team reaches the knockouts, the round of 16 is the following weekend, so book flexible fares for the last week of October.
How to get Rugby World Cup 2027 tickets
About 2.5 million tickets are on sale, and around 1 million of them cost under A$100. By 1 October 2026, fans from 164 countries had bought about 1.3 million. The remaining tickets from the Visa Priority Sale went on sale the same day.
- Prices: adults from A$40 for pool matches and from A$65 to watch the Wallabies. Children from A$20 for every match except the semi-finals and final. Under-twos go free.
- Where to buy: only through the official site, tickets.rugbyworldcup.com. Hospitality packages are sold through the official experiences site.
- Big matches: ticket-inclusive packages are still available for the final and the biggest pool games.
- Avoid scams: don't buy from social media sellers or unofficial resale sites. If a deal for the final looks too good, it is.
Your phone is your ticket. Tickets at major Australian events are usually digital. Download them to your phone's wallet before match day, and make sure you have mobile data at the stadium in case the app needs to refresh.
Do you need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Everyone except Australian and New Zealand citizens needs a visa or travel authority before they fly. For most rugby fans, it's one of these two:
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | ETA (subclass 601) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Passport holders from listed European countries, including EU nations. UK citizens can usually get it too. | Passport holders from listed countries, including the US, Canada, Japan and the UK |
| Cost | Free | A$20 service fee |
| How to apply | Online with the Department of Home Affairs | Only through the official Australian ETA app |
| Stay | Up to 3 months per visit, multiple visits within 12 months | Up to 3 months per visit, multiple visits within 12 months |
Apply at least four weeks before you fly, and don't book non-refundable travel until your visa is granted. Use only the official government channels. Many lookalike websites charge extra for the same application. Check the Department of Home Affairs site for your passport.
Getting between host cities
Australia is big. Perth to Sydney is about 3,300 km, roughly the distance from London to Cyprus. For most fans, flying is the only practical way between host cities.
| Route | Best way | Rough travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney ↔ Melbourne | Flight | About 1 h 30 min |
| Sydney ↔ Brisbane | Flight | About 1 h 35 min |
| Brisbane ↔ Melbourne | Flight | About 2 h 25 min |
| Brisbane ↔ Townsville | Flight | About 2 h |
| Perth ↔ Adelaide | Flight | About 2 h 45 min |
| Perth ↔ Sydney | Flight | About 4 to 5 h |
| Sydney ↔ Newcastle | Train or car | About 2.5 to 3 h |
Approximate times. Flights to and from Perth take longer heading west.
Watch the time zones
Daylight saving starts in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia on Sunday 3 October 2027, three days into the tournament. Queensland and Western Australia don't change their clocks. From 3 October, the host cities run on four different times:
Let your phone set the time automatically, and double-check kick-off times when you fly between Perth and the east coast.
Weather in Australia during the Rugby World Cup
October and November are spring in Australia: warm days, cooler nights, and the start of beach season in the north.
| City | Typical October high | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | About 22°C | Mild and sunny, cooler evenings at the stadium |
| Perth | About 22°C | Dry and bright, cool nights |
| Melbourne | About 20°C | Changeable, with wind and showers. Bring a layer. |
| Adelaide | About 21°C | Pleasant days, cool nights |
| Brisbane | About 26°C | Warm and more humid, with a chance of storms |
| Townsville | About 29°C | Tropical heat |
- Sun: Australian UV is strong even on mild days. Pack sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for afternoon kick-offs.
- Stingers: jellyfish season starts in tropical Queensland from October. In Townsville, swim only inside stinger nets on patrolled beaches.
- Layers: evening matches in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth can feel cold once the sun goes down.
Staying connected in Australia on match day
During the tournament, your phone does a lot of work. It holds your match tickets, books rides back from the stadium, checks domestic flight changes, and keeps the group chat going when you lose your mates in a crowd of 80,000.
Before you fly
- Check your home plan's roaming rate. US day passes are often $12 a day, and many UK networks charge £5 to £7.50 a day outside Europe.
- Australia switched off 3G in 2024. Older phones that rely on 3G may not work there, so make sure yours supports 4G with voice (VoLTE).
- Install a travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and download your match tickets.
On match day
- Screenshot your tickets in case signal is slow as the crowd arrives.
- Agree a meeting point. Stadium networks get busy at half-time and full-time.
- Pre-book your ride home or check the public transport timetable before the final whistle.
A three-week trip on a $12-a-day roaming pass can cost more than $250 per phone. A local data plan on a travel eSIM covers the same trip for a fraction of that, and you keep your home number for calls and texts.
Get your Australia eSIM before the first whistle
The ETravelSim Australia eSIM gives you local mobile data across all seven host cities, from the moment you land. Buy it online, scan the QR code at home, and it connects when you arrive. There's no airport SIM queue and no documents to show.
Light user
- Maps, tickets, messaging and ride apps
- Good for a week following one match
- Top up any time if you need more
Full tournament
- Covers the pool stage and the knockouts
- Enough for photos, video calls and highlights
- Works in every host city
Prices checked in October 2026 and may change. See the product page for every plan, including unlimited data.
Heading to New Zealand too? Plenty of fans add a week across the Tasman. Pair your Australia plan with a New Zealand eSIM.
Land in Australia already connected
Your tickets, maps and match-day plans in one place. Install your eSIM before you fly and you're online the moment you land in Perth, Sydney or Brisbane.
Get your Australia eSIMFirst order in the app? Use code APP10 for 10% off.
Rugby World Cup 2027 travel FAQs
When is the Rugby World Cup 2027?
From Friday 1 October to Saturday 13 November 2027. The opening match is Australia v Hong Kong China in Perth, and the final is at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Which cities are hosting the Rugby World Cup 2027?
Seven cities: Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Townsville. Sydney has two stadiums, Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) and Sydney Football Stadium (Allianz Stadium).
Where is the Rugby World Cup 2027 final?
At Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) in Sydney on Saturday 13 November 2027. Both semi-finals are there too, on 5 and 6 November.
How much are Rugby World Cup 2027 tickets?
Adult tickets start at A$40 for pool matches and A$65 for Wallabies matches. Children's tickets start at A$20 for all matches except the semi-finals and final, and under-twos go free. Buy only from the official tournament ticketing site.
Do I need a visa to watch the Rugby World Cup in Australia?
Yes, unless you hold an Australian or New Zealand passport. Most European fans, including UK citizens, can apply for a free eVisitor. US, Canadian and Japanese fans usually apply for an ETA through the Australian ETA app, which has an A$20 service fee. Apply at least four weeks before travel.
How do I travel between Rugby World Cup host cities?
Fly. Most hops between host cities take 1.5 to 2.5 hours, but Perth to Sydney takes about 4 to 5 hours. Newcastle is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Sydney by train or car. Book domestic flights early, because prices rise around match weekends.
Plan the rest of your trip
- eSIM for International Travel: How It Works and What It Costs
- International Roaming Plans & Data: Costs and Tips
- Australia eSIM: data plans for every host city
- New Zealand eSIM: add a trip across the Tasman
Last updated: 8 October 2026. Match dates, venues and ticket details come from the official match schedule and published tournament updates. Visa details come from the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Tourism Australia. Always check official sources before booking, as details can change.