Elliott Smith and Cameron McMillan discuss the Rugby World Cup 2027 schedule announced today and what it means for the new All Blacks coach. Video / Cameron Pitney
The All Blacks will open the 2027 Rugby World Cup against Chile in Perth with their clash against hosts Australia taking place a week later, World Rugby have announced.
The Wallabies will open the tournament in Perth against Hong Kong China on Friday, October 1, with the All Blacks andChile meeting a day later at 1.15pm local time (6.15pm NZT).
The Bledisloe Cup rivals will then clash on October 9 at Stadium Australia in Sydney while the All Blacks finish their pool play against Hong Kong China at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium.
The All Blacks have never played Australia in a World Cup pool match with the four previous meetings (1991, 2003, 2011 and 2015) being in knockout games. Their most recent World Cup clash was the 2015 final at Twickenham. The last time Australia hosted the World Cup in 2003, they defeated the All Blacks at the semi-final stage.
The All Blacks have won the past 11 tests against the Wallabies and haven’t lost to Australia in Sydney since 2015.
The All Blacks were defeated by hosts France in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, New Zealand’s first pool defeat in history, before going on to make the final.
The Pool A winners will meet a third-placed team from Pool C, E or F before a likely quarter-final against world No 1 South Africa.
If the All Blacks top their group and make the final, all four knockout games would be in Sydney.
The Pool A runners-up play the second-placed side from Pool E, most likely Japan or Samoa, in their round of 16 game in Brisbane.
Tickets go on sale on February 18.
The eight stadiums that will host matches at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Chile are ranked 17th in the world and made their first World Cup appearance two years ago in France, where they lost all four games, scoring just four tries and conceding 30.
Hong Kong China qualified for RWC 2027 by winning the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025, beating Korea, Sri Lanka and UAE. They are ranked 23rd in the world.
The final will be played in Sydney on Saturday, November 13, at 10pm NZT.
All Blacks Rugby World Cup draw
All Blacks v Chile, Perth, Saturday, October 2, 6.15pm NZT
All Blacks v Australia, Sydney, Saturday, October 9, 7.10pm
All Blacks v Hong Kong China, Brisbane, Friday, October 15, 7.15pm
Key match-ups in each Rugby World Cup group
Group B, South Africa v Italy, Adelaide, Sunday October 3,
