2027 Rugby World Cup to be in Australia, final may be at the MCG

As Australia prepares to host the 2027 rugby tournament, talks are underway to play the decider in Melbourne.

A game betweent the Wallabies and All Blacks at the MCG in 2007.

A push for Melbourne to host the final of the Rugby World Cup has been launched ahead of an imminent announcement Australia will host the 2027 tournament.

The World Rugby Council is expected to announce as early as Thursday that Australia is the confirmed host of the major event, pipping a bid by the US.

Rugby activations featuring junior players have been scheduled for major Australian cities including Melbourne for Friday morning.

The announcement is not expected to include confirmation of where the final will be held, setting the stage for a bidding war between Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

The MCG is one of the venues in the running to host the final.

Wallabies player Len Ikitau scores a try against South Africa in a 2021 game. Picture: Getty

But Victoria will try to land the decider for the MCG, where a crowd of up to 100,000 could see the Cup decided.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula confirmed the state government was already in talks to bring it to the MCG.

“We believe the Melbourne Cricket Ground would be an ideal place for the Rugby World Cup final to be played and we’ve strongly advocated that in our discussions with Rugby Australia and the Rugby World Cup,’’ he said.

“We are the events capital of the nation, with a sporting precinct that cannot be matched.”

The seven week Rugby World Cup is the third biggest sporting showcase on earth, after the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.

South Africa celebrate winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England. Picture: AFP

James O'Connor takes a picture with fans during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Picture: Getty

It would attract more than two million people, including 200,000 international visitors,

boost the national economy by about $2.5bn and create more than 13,000 jobs.

Rival state governments would be keen to land the final for the hordes of tourists and international TV exposure it could attract to their capital cities.

But MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said the MCG could provide a special stage as a first time host of the final.

“The MCG is the biggest stage in Australian sport and we relish in hosting major events, world cups and special events,’’ he said.

“We look forward to working with Rugby Australia in their endeavour to host 2027 Rugby World Cup.”

World Rugby has a minimum 60,000-seat requirement for a stadium to host the final, ruling out bids from Queensland and Adelaide.

It leaves the MCG, Sydney’s 83,500-seat Stadium Australia and 65,000 capacity Optus Stadium in Perth as potential hosts.

It would be the third time Australia has hosted the World Cup, and second on its own after staging the event solo in 2003 and jointly with New Zealand in 1987.

Australia was last year named preferred candidate to host the men’s 2027 and women’s 2029 World Cups.

Originally published as 2027 Rugby World Cup to be in Australia, final may be at the MCG