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How hosting the 2027 World Cup could save Australian rugby

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos has promised the sport’s chance to reset and prosper won’t be missed after the country all but landed the hosting rights for the 2027 World Cup.

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Australia was listed on Thursday by rugby’s governing body as the “preferred candidate” to host the global tournament, in what effectively ended a two-horse race with the United States.

The event – which Australia hosted in 1987 and 2003 – is being regarded as a “once-in-generation” opportunity for a financially stricken sport that contemplated a return to amateur status last year.

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“Absolutely, it really will (move RA out of the red); it’s going to be a game-changer for us, both on and off the field,” Marinos said.

“It’s hugely significant; it gives us a pathway, optimism and an ability to reset the commercial landscape when you look at the opportunities ahead.”

Australia will host England in a test series next year before the 2023 World Cup in France and an Australian British & Irish Lions tour in 2025.

The likely 2027 World Cup will be followed by an Olympic Games on home soil in 2032 in Brisbane.

“The focus is going to be on this part of the world, it’s a fantastic opportunity to latch on to,” Marinos said.

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Profit from the 2003 World Cup was north of $40 million, but fast forward to April this year and RA was reporting a net deficit of $27.1 million.

That came after the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to destroy the game domestically, with Rugby Australia resorting to JobKeeper payments and saving almost $10 million in staff costs through redundancies.

At the time RA chairman Hamish McLennan admitted talk of returning to amateur status had been considered.

Acknowledging the lessons of the past, Marinos on Thursday stated RA had an obligation to set up rugby union long-term in Australia.

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“That’s been at the forefront of the board’s mind from the inception,” he said.

“This isn’t about getting a windfall and propping up artificially for a short-term gain.”

He also hoped the prospect of playing at a home World Cup would entice more talent – across all sports – to remain on Australian shores.

“It’s going to make a lot of the players playing abroad rethink and any thinking of going abroad,” he said.

“It’s a huge incentive to play in a World Cup on home soil, it’s a unique experience.

“Not only that but you’re talking about the 13, 14-year-olds that have an aspirational pathway now, across all the codes.”

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2 Comments
i
isaac 1330 days ago

If only Australua could allow Fiji samoa and tonga to host a match or two each....they'd be grateful..otherwise, these small nations might never get a chance to hosting a world cup

N
Northandsouth 1330 days ago

It would be lovely for the islands but have two massive obstacles. One is cost. Its incredibly expensive to fly to the islands and play with poor infrastructure in front of tiny crowds. Each game would generate huge loses. The other is distance. People like to think of the islands as 'next to Oz and NZ', but in reality they are big distances. The flight time between Sydney and Suva is longer (5.5hrs) than the flight time between London and Tel Aviv. Imagine if someone suggested England share a world cup game with Israel because its in the neighbourhood! Also the island populations are so spread out more ex pat Tongans, Samoans or Fijians could attend a WC match in Brisbane or Sydney than in Apia or Nuku'alofa.

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CO 31 minutes ago
Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Will Jordan is as good as any fullback in the world and at six foot two is backed up by younger, larger talent at fullback like Sullivan and Spencer. Ruben Love is a slightly larger but less eccentric version of McKenzie at this stage in his development.


McKenzie, he's like a wildly energetic dog that doesn't stop being a pup until the age of six.


McKenzie is no longer the young pup, he's entering his best years as a ten, he's been a test player for nine years and that's really starting to produce under Razor.


NZ sometimes pigeon holes players early and can be blind to the McKenzie late bloomers, McKenzie is a loyal, passionate Allblack and it's only because of a double world player of the year that he's not starting at ten each time for the Allblacks.


For those that get to meet McKenzie he's a relaxed, friendly, courteous and composed person and he is looking likely to peak as a ten at RWC.


However, McKenzie isn't really the guy we need to replace and Love is the nearest thing NZ has as a younger model. Instead NZ needs to be looking for a guy with the size and height of Beauden, Pollard, Farrell, Larkham, Sexton.


Carter was a freak at ten and McKenzies also really special but the games now dominated by first fives that are noticeably over six foot. A smaller guy needs to be freakishly talented.


Love is a handy player that plays well at both fullback and ten, he's got a really good mindset and a superb footballer like McKenzie but I'm a crowded fullback field that still has Jordie Barret around to fill in, Love needs to spend a lot more time at ten, a position that NZ is struggling with for world class depth.


As for Naitoa, he needs a run at six, he's a lock that's really better suited to six.


The French are a handful and the Allblacks can really build a strong year by winning the third test, once the games under control then Love should be swapped with McKenzie to have his chance at ten.

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