Rugby World Cup 2027: WR Defends Choice, Despite Epic Lions vs Wallabies at MCG

Alan Gilpin: No regrets over the 2027 Rugby World Cup final venue

World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin has expressed that he has no regrets about choosing Sydney’s Accor Stadium over the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the 2027 Rugby World Cup final. This decision comes after the thrilling encounter between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions at the MCG last Saturday. Gilpin, along with President Brett Robinson, Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh, and other personalities, participated in the presentation of ticket sales plans for the 2027 tournament, which will be held in seven Australian cities. The first available tickets will be the “Superfan” passes for 2027, which will allow lucky fans to purchase four tickets for any of the 52 matches. These tickets will go on sale next month, while a wider pre-sale will begin in February 2026. The debate over the final’s venue arose after Saturday’s thrilling match at the MCG, which had a controversial ending in the history of international rugby. The tension generated by the review of Jac Morgan’s play, which preceded Hugo Keenan’s try for the Lions, raised doubts about the choice of Sydney as the venue for the 2027 final.

“No, we went through a very competitive process,” Gilpin commented when asked if the opportunity to take the final to the MCG, where more than 90,000 spectators attended, had been missed.

Alan Gilpin, Head of World Rugby

Gilpin highlighted the competitiveness between states and cities to host sporting events, and praised Sydney for its outstanding organization of the semi-finals and the final of the 2003 World Cup.

The atmosphere at the MCG during the second test between the Wallabies and the Lions was incredible. Melbourne, for its part, will host seven group stage matches and two round of 16 matches, although it has not yet been confirmed in which stadium they will be played. More than 2.5 million tickets are expected to be available for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with affordable prices for fans. There will be a million entries below 100 Australian dollars, with prices starting at 40 dollars for adults and 20 dollars for children. The cheapest entry to see the Wallabies at home during the event will be 100 dollars.