Fans fill Adelaide Oval as the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 schedule is unveiled, with the city set to host six pool matches across three weekends. Photo via Adelaide Oval Instagram

Rugby supporters can now begin planning for 2027, with the Men’s Rugby World Cup schedule confirmed and Adelaide set to play a central role in the opening phase of the tournament. The South Australian capital will host six pool matches across three consecutive weekends at Adelaide Oval, bringing teams and fans from around the world into the city.

Ticket demand is already shaping expectations. Registered fans will gain access to a presale from 18 February, following strong early interest that organisers say reflects growing anticipation for the expanded tournament. Matches in Adelaide are expected to draw supporters from 10 different nations, adding an international edge to the city’s spring calendar.

One of the most closely watched fixtures arrives on the opening weekend, when Zimbabwe returns to the Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1991, facing Wales on 2 October. The following day, reigning champions South Africa begin their title defence against Italy, a contest likely to attract attention well beyond South Australia.

The second weekend brings England to Adelaide, alongside Pacific Nations Cup holders Fiji, reinforcing the city’s position as a regular stop for top tier international rugby. The final round of pool matches in Adelaide includes Japan against the United States and a highly anticipated Pool C clash between Argentina and Fiji, both of which could have a bearing on qualification for the knockout stages.

The full list of matches at Adelaide Oval is as follows: Wales v Zimbabwe on Saturday 2 October, South Africa v Italy on Sunday 3 October, England v Zimbabwe on Friday 8 October, Fiji v Canada on Sunday 10 October, Japan v USA on Friday 15 October and Argentina v Fiji on Saturday 16 October.

The 2027 tournament will mark the 11th edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup and the first to feature 24 teams. A total of 52 matches will be played, with a round of 16 introduced to accommodate the larger field, a change that World Rugby says is designed to broaden participation and global interest.

Economic expectations sit alongside the sporting narrative. State tourism figures point to the impact of major rugby events, citing last year’s British and Irish Lions match at Adelaide Oval, which set a record for hotel occupancy in metropolitan Adelaide with 10,745 room nights filled. That single event generated $3.9 million in hotel revenue, placing it among the city’s strongest days on record.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said similar outcomes were anticipated in 2027, noting the draw of visitors from established markets such as the United Kingdom and North America. Recent data shows those two regions combined were worth $253 million to South Australia’s visitor economy in the year to September 2025. Bettison also encouraged travelling fans to explore the state beyond match days, highlighting food, wine and nature-based experiences as part of the broader appeal.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson described the release of the schedule as a key milestone for teams and supporters, saying the fixture list had been shaped with player welfare, fan experience and global audiences in mind. He pointed to Adelaide as one of several cities set to host high-profile matches during the six-week tournament.

Tournament managing director Chris Stanley emphasised the decision to group matches over weekends, a move intended to create a festival feel across host cities and make attendance more accessible. Ticket prices in Adelaide will start at $20 for standing areas and $40 for seated options, with organisers aiming to balance affordability with demand.

Tickets for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be sold exclusively through the official tournament website. With the schedule now public, attention turns to February’s presale, where early demand may offer the clearest signal yet of how strongly Australia 2027 is resonating with fans at home and overseas.

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