By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
More than 750 000 tickets have already been sold in the opening sales phase of the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, underlining the scale of anticipation for what will be the largest tournament in the sport’s history.
Australia will host an expanded 24 team competition featuring 52 matches, with organisers expecting a cumulative attendance of 2.5 million across seven host cities. The early rush has surpassed the pace set by previous editions, as supporters from around the world moved swiftly during the Superfan and Presale windows to secure seats.
More than half of the available tickets were purchased within six hours of the Presale launch. Demand has been strong across pool fixtures and knockout clashes alike, with headline encounters such as Australia v New Zealand, England v Wales and Ireland v Scotland among the fastest to sell.
Ticket prices have been positioned with accessibility in mind. Entry level tickets start at R420 for adults and R210 for children, while approximately one million tickets are priced at AUD100 or less, the equivalent of roughly R1 050.
Supporters from 135 countries have already secured their place at the tournament, reflecting rugby’s broad international footprint. Australia leads overall ticket purchases, followed by traditional powerhouses from Europe and the Pacific. South Africa ranks among the top ten purchasing nations, an indicator of sustained appetite among Springbok supporters to follow the team abroad.
Springboks’ road to a title defence
Defending champions South Africa national rugby union team will begin their quest for a fifth world title in October 2027. Drawn in Pool B, the Springboks will face Italy, Georgia and Romania in the group phase.
Their confirmed pool fixtures are as follows:
Sunday, 3 October 2027, 05h45 SA time
South Africa v Italy at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Sunday, 10 October 2027, 08h45 SA time
South Africa v Georgia at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
Sunday, 17 October 2027, 13h15 SA time
South Africa v Romania at Perth Stadium, Perth
Should the Springboks finish in the top two of their pool, they will progress to the Round of 16 on the weekend of 23 and 24 October. The quarter finals are scheduled for 30 and 31 October in Sydney or Brisbane. The semi finals will take place on 5 and 6 November, with the final set for 13 November at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Next ticket phase opens in May 2026
Supporters who were unsuccessful during the Presale will have another opportunity when the Application Phase opens on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. All matches and price categories will be available during this two week window. Where demand exceeds supply, a ballot system will be implemented to ensure a fair allocation process.
With more than 18 months remaining before kick off, the pace of sales suggests Australia 2027 is on course to deliver a tournament of rare scale and atmosphere. For South African supporters, planning has already begun.