SVNS great says Bledisloe II offered ‘taste’ of Rugby World Cup 2027

All Blacks Sevens great Karl Te Nana is confident Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be a massive hit in Australia, after more than  73,000 fans packed the stands at Accor Stadium for the second Bledisloe Cup Test of 2026.

Beauden Barrett and Josh Moorby scored two tries each as the All Blacks ran away with a 43-21 win at the Sydney venue, which will host two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final and the Rugby World Cup Final at next year’s event.

Australia and New Zealand will renew their rugby rivalry with a first-ever pool play matchup, which will be played at Stadium Australia 357 days on from Bledisloe II. Six Nations juggernauts England and Wales will also face off there, having been drawn together in Pool F.

The rugby world celebrated the ‘one year to go’ milestone earlier this month, ahead of the opening game out west on October 1, 2027. Australia kicks things off against World Cup debutants Hong Kong China, before New Zealand play Chile the next day.

But as Te Nana explained, if last weekend’s Bledisloe II crowd is anything to go by, next year’s Rugby World Cup will be a tournament to remember. It was the biggest Bledisloe Cup crowd at Accor Stadium in 10 years, as the Wallabies announced on social media.

“Australia know how to do it big, regardless of what competition it is and we just got to taste a bit on the weekend,” Te Nana said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.

“We know every single game in the World Cup’s gonna be like that. Plus, we’re gonna have travelling rows coming over, supporting their teams.

“It’s really exciting… mate, it’s going to be massive.

“The support’s gonna be massive and we’re having our own challenges too with the All Blacks but we’re building. I know Australia’s gonna get there as well.”

World Rugby announced earlier this month that 1.3 million World Cup tickets had been bought by fans from 164 countries. The World Cup is spreading 52 matches across seven host cities, with quarter-finals taking place in Sydney and Brisbane.

Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Melbourne and Townsville will welcome the rugby world during the six-week competition, which will field 24 teams for the first time. It’s been reported that about 250,000 fans are expected to visit Australia from overseas.

“In just 365 days, Australia will welcome the world for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, a landmark tournament that coincides with the competition’s 40th anniversary and promises to be the biggest and most accessible celebration of rugby ever staged,” World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said on October 1.

“The expanded format marks the beginning of a new era for our sport. With 24 teams and 52 matches for the first time, alongside the introduction of a round of 16, more nations will have the opportunity to compete, progress and shine on rugby’s biggest stage, supporting the expansion of our global game and bringing even greater drama and excitement to fans around the world.

“Beyond the six weeks of competition, Australia 2027 will leave a lasting legacy for the host nation, the Oceania region and our global membership. As rugby’s premier event, Rugby World Cup is a powerful catalyst for growth, inspiring new generations of players, fans and volunteers, while generating revenues that World Rugby reinvests in the game in full.”