January 30, 2025 • 10 mins
Australia's host cities for the expanded 24-team Rugby World Cup in 2027 have been announced.
Sydney's Olympic Stadium will host the final AND the two semi-finals, plus two of the quarter-finals.
Brisbane will host the other two quarters, but Melbourne is the big loser...hosting only nine matches, including two of the 'Round of 16' showdowns.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good evening for a war good evening, I trust you.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Well, thanks very much for joining the program. It's been
a big couple of days for you. Blake saysn't it
We now know the venues for the upcoming World Cup.
It makes it quite palpable now you know where the
games are being played.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, it becomes very real when we talk about high
cities and those seven host cities hosting the games through
the six week period, and I think everyone's pretty excited
with where everything's landed, and it makes for a monumental
twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup, and obviously the twenty
four teams as well up from twenty teams, so it's
(00:50):
going to be an exciting tournament.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
How did you come to the decision generally around these venues?
Was there a whip hand in your decision making process
with the final ats? In fact, Sydney if the quids
and aren't they've almost got everything all the main considerations
around that field.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, the delivery of the World Cups actually run through
World Rugby and through a local organizing committee, so not
selection from RA but selection from World Rugby, and the
processes is generally conversations with the state governments given the
competitiveness of state governments over here, and then balancing the
commercial elements up against the connection with the community and
(01:28):
the rugby supporters within Australia. So I think the balance
is sensible and commercially it's a great outcome for rugby,
but I think most importantly the connection to the public
and the community and engaging as many new young fans
as we can as possible.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
So what's rugby Australia is hand in the organizing of this?
Is it minimal? What do you actually have? What say
do you have? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well? We've obviously got very strong relationships across our territories
and our geography. We've got two seats on the local
Organizing Committee as well, so have clear influence within the
governments of the World Cup as well. So, but in
terms of the actual ownership of the event, the ownership
of the event sits with World.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Rugby and they what do they write your check for
one hundred million or something like that and they walk
off with the bickie? So is that the way it
goes they stand to make quite a bit of money
out of this film.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, obviously, you know the Rugby World Cups are the
men's every four years essentially generates enough revenue to work
and then come the game across or well or dispersed
that those revenues across all the national unions and development programs.
So yeah, we obviously get a minimum guarantee and then
(02:46):
you know the revenues generators above that minimum guarantee go
towards all rugby playing nations across the world.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's been uplifted Australian rugby with Joe Schmidt and the
success he's had to date so far. So I suppose
two part question, how much do you put into his
court the success head and are you going to retain him?
Are you going hard to actually pick this guy up?
Because he could be key for big crowd numbers for Australia.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, Jason Great. I think that I've obviously got
great athletes here in Australia playing rugby, and Joe's do
a really good job in twenty twenty four in bringing
together those players and I guess creating a culture which
has led to improved performances which I think every once
enjoyed watching not just here in Australia but around the world.
(03:37):
So we're very pleased to have Joe in charge of
the Wallabies. And you know, it's well documented that his
contracts up at the end of the British Irish line,
so a lot of focus is on now what does
it look like postlines and we're working through that with
Joe at the moment. Clearly will be pretty creative to
ensure that he's got an influential position within the Wallaby
(04:00):
environment to continue the trajectory that we've been on, but
that's still to be finalized. Yeah, we've been very pleased
with obviously Joe's influence and very fortunate to have him involved.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
When it comes to Victoria and the issues I had
around hosting games that as I believe they almost turn
their back on RA I'm not quite sure the political
ramifications are after some issues through the rebels and through
Melbourne hosting the Super Rugby weekend and the like, but
at the last minute they turned around and said we
actually want a bit of that. Is that why they've
(04:34):
really not picked up some of these the major games.
They're still hosting a lot, but they're not as influential
significant as a lot of people thought.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Film Now there's still got nine games, which is it's
just a large number from the number of games in
the World Cup and you know, and and four games
at the MCG, so some big games there quarter finals weekend.
And I think it's a sensible outcome given you their
love for sport in Victoria and in Melbourne. And I
(05:05):
think that the solution that both the World Rugby and
the Victorian government came to is a central one and
hopefully they're looking forward to hosting those big events as
well as welcoming there's I guess less familiar rugby playing
nations to Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
They did go cap in hand World Rugby or not?
Do you know much about that because it was a
bit of a standoff, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, Look, we're separated, separated, two issues. So you know,
whilst you know times I guess you can bring together
the rebels challenges with with the Rugby World Cup content
and international rugby, but you know, we certainly look at
it as two separate issues and two separate opportunities, and
so yeah, I think that I think that it's actually
(05:49):
ended up in a good outcome.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Great to see a pragmatic approach to the sleeks of
the venues and to the actual draw itself, now that
is not out yet, but the adjustments to the dates
around the World Cup so you don't run headlong and
to example the things like the final series of the
nr L that's seen some more. That's that's pleasing.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, I think that's been been a great outcome and
that required a World Rugby Council vote to get that outcome,
to push back the start of the World Cup by
two weeks so that there is no clash with AFL
and Rugby League and that would have had a material
impact in terms of the attractiveness of those opening rounds.
So great to get that collaboration across all national unions
(06:33):
to push it back two weeks. And then the first
opening game in Perth too, which is which is really exciting,
which again great stadium, a great rugby following state, and
you know, as you say, it's a new format with
six pools of four teams and then around the sixteen,
so it's it's really exciting in terms of the way
(06:56):
it's constructed. And as you say, that time of year,
particularly here in Australia, there's you know there's there's you know,
we can occupy all sports really because the if l
NRL finished and.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
We'll have clear air Rugby Australia CEO Phil Wore joining
us a repeat of that outrageous final against England way
back what was two thousand and three, same stadium. You'd
like to see that, I'm sure, But also I'm sure
you're going to be equally sick of questions about you
chasing down Johnny Wilkinson too. That's not going to stop
you realize that for the next two years.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, I think it's reminded to me too often, unfortunately
that by chasing around the whole night that unfortunately everyone
remembers as the ninety eighth minute when he hit that
right foot across the black dot to win the game.
But I think that on reflection, that's probably one of
the most memorable sporting events that's ever occurred here in Australia.
(07:53):
And you know, where can you get that same level
of interest between twenty seven What are you.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Doing differently to attract fans to bring them to the
game Australian fans. Have you got a master plan about
how you actually put this to on and out, not
only for the terrorist, but of course for the locals.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, well we've had I mean, we we launched our
straining rugby strategy from Green to Gold at the end
of last year, focused on three pillars. First run being
performance excellence, which hope to you were on that journey
to correcting the levels of performance. We've had second ones
participation growth and we've had strong elevation across our women's
(08:30):
game to drive upitipation as well as our men's seniors
game actually, which has been great. And then the third
one is promotion effectiveness and we think of that promotions
around actually how we ensure that we're spending money in
the right spots to promote the game. But all in all,
we've seen last year we sold out Suncorp against the
spring Box in Brisbane, we sold out to Opta Stadium
(08:54):
in Perth against the spring Box, and then we had
over seventy thousand in Sydney against the All Blacks. And
so there's certainly an appetite for Rugbyes need to ensure
that we're performing and attracting not just the rusted onto reporters,
but new fans to the game. So we've got a
lot of work to do we're the first time put
up a hand and and am that but you know,
hopefully were in the right journey.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Love that phrase the rusted on supporters. I think I
can count myself amongst out and finally feel one. Thanks
so match much for joining us. You'll be keeping a
bit of an eye on James O'Connor playing for the
Mighty Crusaders this year. A he's still around.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, that's great to see and obviously a real talent.
And I was fortunate enough to play with him, play
with him and against you back in the day, So
look forward to seeing him do well in New Zealand
and obviously when he tours over here, we'll make it
as tough as we can for it.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And finally, sorry I did say finally, but I'm full
of it because on the media, when's the draw scheduled
to be released? Because too early? It's a disaster, too late,
terrible for planning. Do you think World Rugby yourself got
this right? When can we expect that draw?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I think that. You know, we saw in twenty twenty
three that draw was probably done a little bit too
early on world rankings, and you know we ended up okay.
But there's a lot of speculation going into the twenty
twenty three Regue World Cup. So Joe, we'll be done
in the first quarter in twenty twenty six. It makes
this year's world rankings are very important going into that
(10:20):
World Cup. Talk twenty seven great.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Stuff, Phil war thanks very much for joining us here
on News Talks ABS hugely appreciate. We'll be pestering you
from now right the way through to this magnificent event,
not for tickets, just for content.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Good on you, Phil Pleasure, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from sports Talk, Listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays well. Follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildegrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Good evening for a war good evening, I trust you.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Well, thanks very much for joining the program. It's been
a big couple of days for you. Blake saysn't it
We now know the venues for the upcoming World Cup.
It makes it quite palpable now you know where the
games are being played.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Well, it becomes very real when we talk about high
cities and those seven host cities hosting the games through
the six week period, and I think everyone's pretty excited
with where everything's landed, and it makes for a monumental
twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup, and obviously the twenty
four teams as well up from twenty teams, so it's
(00:50):
going to be an exciting tournament.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
How did you come to the decision generally around these venues?
Was there a whip hand in your decision making process
with the final ats? In fact, Sydney if the quids
and aren't they've almost got everything all the main considerations
around that field.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Well, the delivery of the World Cups actually run through
World Rugby and through a local organizing committee, so not
selection from RA but selection from World Rugby, and the
processes is generally conversations with the state governments given the
competitiveness of state governments over here, and then balancing the
commercial elements up against the connection with the community and
(01:28):
the rugby supporters within Australia. So I think the balance
is sensible and commercially it's a great outcome for rugby,
but I think most importantly the connection to the public
and the community and engaging as many new young fans
as we can as possible.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
So what's rugby Australia is hand in the organizing of this?
Is it minimal? What do you actually have? What say
do you have? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well? We've obviously got very strong relationships across our territories
and our geography. We've got two seats on the local
Organizing Committee as well, so have clear influence within the
governments of the World Cup as well. So, but in
terms of the actual ownership of the event, the ownership
of the event sits with World.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Rugby and they what do they write your check for
one hundred million or something like that and they walk
off with the bickie? So is that the way it
goes they stand to make quite a bit of money
out of this film.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, obviously, you know the Rugby World Cups are the
men's every four years essentially generates enough revenue to work
and then come the game across or well or dispersed
that those revenues across all the national unions and development programs.
So yeah, we obviously get a minimum guarantee and then
(02:46):
you know the revenues generators above that minimum guarantee go
towards all rugby playing nations across the world.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
It's been uplifted Australian rugby with Joe Schmidt and the
success he's had to date so far. So I suppose
two part question, how much do you put into his
court the success head and are you going to retain him?
Are you going hard to actually pick this guy up?
Because he could be key for big crowd numbers for Australia.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
I mean, Jason Great. I think that I've obviously got
great athletes here in Australia playing rugby, and Joe's do
a really good job in twenty twenty four in bringing
together those players and I guess creating a culture which
has led to improved performances which I think every once
enjoyed watching not just here in Australia but around the world.
(03:37):
So we're very pleased to have Joe in charge of
the Wallabies. And you know, it's well documented that his
contracts up at the end of the British Irish line,
so a lot of focus is on now what does
it look like postlines and we're working through that with
Joe at the moment. Clearly will be pretty creative to
ensure that he's got an influential position within the Wallaby
(04:00):
environment to continue the trajectory that we've been on, but
that's still to be finalized. Yeah, we've been very pleased
with obviously Joe's influence and very fortunate to have him involved.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
When it comes to Victoria and the issues I had
around hosting games that as I believe they almost turn
their back on RA I'm not quite sure the political
ramifications are after some issues through the rebels and through
Melbourne hosting the Super Rugby weekend and the like, but
at the last minute they turned around and said we
actually want a bit of that. Is that why they've
(04:34):
really not picked up some of these the major games.
They're still hosting a lot, but they're not as influential
significant as a lot of people thought.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Film Now there's still got nine games, which is it's
just a large number from the number of games in
the World Cup and you know, and and four games
at the MCG, so some big games there quarter finals weekend.
And I think it's a sensible outcome given you their
love for sport in Victoria and in Melbourne. And I
(05:05):
think that the solution that both the World Rugby and
the Victorian government came to is a central one and
hopefully they're looking forward to hosting those big events as
well as welcoming there's I guess less familiar rugby playing
nations to Melbourne.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
They did go cap in hand World Rugby or not?
Do you know much about that because it was a
bit of a standoff, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, Look, we're separated, separated, two issues. So you know,
whilst you know times I guess you can bring together
the rebels challenges with with the Rugby World Cup content
and international rugby, but you know, we certainly look at
it as two separate issues and two separate opportunities, and
so yeah, I think that I think that it's actually
(05:49):
ended up in a good outcome.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Great to see a pragmatic approach to the sleeks of
the venues and to the actual draw itself, now that
is not out yet, but the adjustments to the dates
around the World Cup so you don't run headlong and
to example the things like the final series of the
nr L that's seen some more. That's that's pleasing.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Yeah, I think that's been been a great outcome and
that required a World Rugby Council vote to get that outcome,
to push back the start of the World Cup by
two weeks so that there is no clash with AFL
and Rugby League and that would have had a material
impact in terms of the attractiveness of those opening rounds.
So great to get that collaboration across all national unions
(06:33):
to push it back two weeks. And then the first
opening game in Perth too, which is which is really exciting,
which again great stadium, a great rugby following state, and
you know, as you say, it's a new format with
six pools of four teams and then around the sixteen,
so it's it's really exciting in terms of the way
(06:56):
it's constructed. And as you say, that time of year,
particularly here in Australia, there's you know there's there's you know,
we can occupy all sports really because the if l
NRL finished and.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
We'll have clear air Rugby Australia CEO Phil Wore joining
us a repeat of that outrageous final against England way
back what was two thousand and three, same stadium. You'd
like to see that, I'm sure, But also I'm sure
you're going to be equally sick of questions about you
chasing down Johnny Wilkinson too. That's not going to stop
you realize that for the next two years.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Well, I think it's reminded to me too often, unfortunately
that by chasing around the whole night that unfortunately everyone
remembers as the ninety eighth minute when he hit that
right foot across the black dot to win the game.
But I think that on reflection, that's probably one of
the most memorable sporting events that's ever occurred here in Australia.
(07:53):
And you know, where can you get that same level
of interest between twenty seven What are you.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Doing differently to attract fans to bring them to the
game Australian fans. Have you got a master plan about
how you actually put this to on and out, not
only for the terrorist, but of course for the locals.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, well we've had I mean, we we launched our
straining rugby strategy from Green to Gold at the end
of last year, focused on three pillars. First run being
performance excellence, which hope to you were on that journey
to correcting the levels of performance. We've had second ones
participation growth and we've had strong elevation across our women's
(08:30):
game to drive upitipation as well as our men's seniors
game actually, which has been great. And then the third
one is promotion effectiveness and we think of that promotions
around actually how we ensure that we're spending money in
the right spots to promote the game. But all in all,
we've seen last year we sold out Suncorp against the
spring Box in Brisbane, we sold out to Opta Stadium
(08:54):
in Perth against the spring Box, and then we had
over seventy thousand in Sydney against the All Blacks. And
so there's certainly an appetite for Rugbyes need to ensure
that we're performing and attracting not just the rusted onto reporters,
but new fans to the game. So we've got a
lot of work to do we're the first time put
up a hand and and am that but you know,
hopefully were in the right journey.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Love that phrase the rusted on supporters. I think I
can count myself amongst out and finally feel one. Thanks
so match much for joining us. You'll be keeping a
bit of an eye on James O'Connor playing for the
Mighty Crusaders this year. A he's still around.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Yeah, that's great to see and obviously a real talent.
And I was fortunate enough to play with him, play
with him and against you back in the day, So
look forward to seeing him do well in New Zealand
and obviously when he tours over here, we'll make it
as tough as we can for it.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
And finally, sorry I did say finally, but I'm full
of it because on the media, when's the draw scheduled
to be released? Because too early? It's a disaster, too late,
terrible for planning. Do you think World Rugby yourself got
this right? When can we expect that draw?
Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I think that. You know, we saw in twenty twenty
three that draw was probably done a little bit too
early on world rankings, and you know we ended up okay.
But there's a lot of speculation going into the twenty
twenty three Regue World Cup. So Joe, we'll be done
in the first quarter in twenty twenty six. It makes
this year's world rankings are very important going into that
(10:20):
World Cup. Talk twenty seven great.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Stuff, Phil war thanks very much for joining us here
on News Talks ABS hugely appreciate. We'll be pestering you
from now right the way through to this magnificent event,
not for tickets, just for content.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Good on you, Phil Pleasure, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
For more from sports Talk, Listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays well. Follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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