Rugby Australia has confirmed that it will submit a bid for the 2027 World Cup which would be the third time the tournament is held in the country.

Australia first co-hosted the inaugural 1987 World Cup with New Zealand and then were the sole hosts of the showpiece in 2003, when the Wallabies made the final.

RA Chairman Hamish McLennan believes that the opportunity for Australia to host its second men’s World Cup is significant for the country.

‘This is an exciting day for all Australians as we formally put our hand up to host the third-largest sporting event in the world,’ McLennan said in a statement.

‘Hosting Rugby World Cup 2027 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia, which would drive substantial economic outcomes for our country, while also providing a lasting legacy for rugby in this region.

‘It is also a significant opportunity for rugby in Australia and the Pacific, with the event to provide an unrivalled opportunity to grow the game by attracting further investment, participants, officials and volunteers.’

World Rugby will announce the successful host candidate in May 2022, with Australia entering the dialogue phase of the host-selection process.

Russia has also indicated an interest to host the event in 2027 and the United States for 2031.

Australia is set to host a plethora of sporting events in the coming years, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022, Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2023, the British & Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the Netball World Cup in 2027.

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