Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Schedule Springs Curtain-Raiser Surprise

rugbyasia247 Posted On February 3, 2026

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It had been hinted to us in the lead-up to the release of the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Schedule that the opening match would not be Australia vs New Zealand as had been widely expected, and instead the hosts will take on newcomers Hong Kong China in Perth.

Feature Photo – Photo Credit – World Rugby / RWC 2027 – Rugby World Cup winner and former Wallaby captain John Eales, together with Australia’s Joseph Suaalii, took the Webb Ellis Cup to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They were joined by 24 young people from local rugby communities representing the 24 teams involved in the tournament.

The match schedule and ticket prices for Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027 were revealed on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, with all of the dates, venues, and kick-off times for all 52 tournament matches announced.

The news of the opening game featuring the Wallabies and Hong Kong China has (expectedly) received some backlash online as the hosts and World Rugby opted to play Australia vs the All Blacks at a larger venue in Sydney in the second round for greater revenue and also protect the Wallabies from a potential opening loss (this is the truth, no matter how the PR tries to spin the news).

An opening loss to NZ could have potentially had a negative impact on home fans, and they will be needed to ensure the tournament is a financial success, which World Rugby sorely needs, especially considering the growing concerns of whether the two Rugby World Cups in the USA will fulfil their commercial potential.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said, “The wait is over. This is the moment teams and fans have been waiting for, and the start of their Rugby World Cup 2027 journey. We’ve assembled the most compelling match schedule to date, carefully designed to balance player welfare, fan experience and global reach.

From the opening match in Perth | Boorloo to the final in Sydney | Wangal, get ready for six weeks of the greatest brand of rugby as our sport enters a new era of openness and entertainment with Australia 2027.”

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Schedule

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Schedule – Asian Teams

World Rugby said in its press release that RWC 2027 has a “weekend-focused schedule to maximise attendance and global impact.”

The tournament is played across 19 matchdays, and the schedule is mostly on weekends to maximise attendance. Only two Mondays across the tournament’s six weeks will have matches, with one coinciding with a public holiday in Australia.

Hong Kong China Rugby – RWC 2027 Schedule

Image Credit RWC 2027

World Rugby added, “Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027 will launch with a landmark moment in Perth | Boorloo on 1 October, as Australia face RWC debutants Hong Kong China in the opening match of the tournament, a powerful symbol of rugby’s expanding global footprint with more nations earning place to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.”

What is disappointing to see is the amount of negativity aimed at Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) online. They did not choose this and qualified on merit for their first-ever Men’s RWC appearance – for the staff and players, this is a wonderful opportunity. They will have the microscope on them intensified over the coming 18 months before they compete in Pool A.

Logan Asplin, head coach of the Hong Kong China Rugby Men’s XV, said, “There was some initial surprise, because we thought our first game would be against Chile, but it was pretty exciting. We talked about the excitement of us being there for the first time, and this only enhances that excitement, and it gives us an opportunity to make another part of history.”

He added, “What an occasion to start against Australia. To be involved in the opening ceremony and see how they start the tournament will be really special, it allows us to be a part of how they celebrate, and the cultural piece around the land and the journey, so to be along for the ride is awesome.”

HKCR said online, “FIRST UP! We are absolutely stoked to confirm we will play the opening game of RWC 2027 against the hosts, Australia. This is a dream come true for our team, and our men can’t wait to make their Rugby World Cup debut.”

Friday 1st October – Hong Kong China vs Australia – Perth Stadium
Saturday 9th October – Hong Kong China vs Chile – North Queensland Stadium
Friday 15th October – Hong Kong China vs New Zealand – Docklands Stadium

Image Credit HKCR

Japan Brave Blossoms – RWC 2027 Schedule

For the Brave Blossoms, the JRFU posted their schedule online too for the Men’s matches in Pool E.

Head Coach Eddie Jones said via the Japan Rugby Football Union, “It’s a great feeling that we’ve decided which venue and in what order we’re going to play the pool match. It’s important how you can be fully prepared. Newcastle is a city famous for rugby, located north of Sydney. Brisbane is perhaps the world’s best rugby ground, with fast-expanding rugby and a great venue. Adelaide Oval has good memories of the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

The important thing about entering the Rugby World Cup is to be the most prepared team, and we want to make the most of the time we are given to make sure we are well prepared.”

Sunday 3rd October – Japan vs Samoa – Newcastle Stadium
Saturday 9th October – Japan vs France – Brisbane Stadium
Friday 15th October – Japan vs USA – Adelaide Oval

Japan Brave Blossoms - RWC 2027 Schedule

Image Credit JRFU

You can see the details of the full match schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2027 here.

RWC 2027 Matches by Venue

The Rugby World Cup 2027 pool phase will conclude in a Super Sunday on 17 October, featuring five Rugby World Cup matches played in a single day. This is the first time it will happen in the tournament’s history. The fixtures are: Italy v Georgia, Ireland v Uruguay, Scotland v Portugal, France v Samoa, South Africa v Romania.

World Rugby added that the calendar has been designed with balanced travel logistics to ensure fairness and high‑quality performance across all 24 teams, including a minimum of five rest days between matches.
Kick-off times have been chosen to suit local conditions, including later starts in warmer cities such as Townsville and Brisbane, while enabling the widest possible global audience to follow their teams across different time zones.

Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Managing Director Chris Stanley added, “By clustering matches on weekends, local communities in our seven vibrant host cities will enjoy a festival atmosphere, with tickets available to suit all needs and budgets. Fans have a unique opportunity to be part of this historic edition and are encouraged to register now to access the exclusive Presale on 18 February.”