RA promises $2.5bn boost, rugby museum as part of 2027 World Cup bid
Rugby Australia will launch its 2027 World Cup bid on Thursday morning with the promise of a $2.5 billion boost to the economy and more than two million attendees, plus a brand new national rugby museum, potentially in Circular Quay, where the country’s most important memorabilia can be displayed.
Some of Australian rugby’s biggest names will gather at the Museum of Contemporary Art to formally launch a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in six years’ time.
Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa.
Australia co-hosted the 1987 Rugby World Cup and also held the 2003 tournament, remembered for Jonny Wilkinson’s late drop-goal for England in the final against the Wallabies.
The Herald has seen Australia’s World Cup bid guide, labelled “Game On”, which reveals details of what organisers will pitch to World Rugby, who will make a decision by May 2022 on the successful host.
No other countries have formally announced their interest in hosting the World Cup, the third-largest sporting event in the world. Unions must inform World Rugby by the end of this month of their interest.
RA says the 2027 event would attract more than two million attendees across 48 matches held over seven weeks at “eight to 10 venues”. It is hoped 200,000 international visitors will flock to Australia and contribute roughly $2.5 billion of “direct and indirect expenditure” to the economy.
The guide predicts more than 13,000 jobs will be created if the bid is successful. A total of 10,000 volunteers will be used for an event that is forecast to inspire another 30,000 people to take up rugby in Australia.
“This event is a beacon to the business community and tourists around the world,” Sir Rod Eddington, chairman of the World Cup bid advisory board, said in the document. “We cannot underestimate the significance hosting this tournament would have for Australia’s economy.”
RA’s vision is for “maximum revenue, minimum risk” and wants to create a legacy for not only Australia but the Pacific region.
Former primer minister John Howard watches the Wallabies from London at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Credit:Pata Scala
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says in the document: “This would be a golden moment for Australia on the world stage. I still remember the 2003 tournament and what it meant for Australia at the time.”
A Rugby World Cup would add to a growing number of other major sporting events set to be held in Australia, including the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, the 2027 Netball World Cup and potentially a 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
The Herald can reveal another promise from RA: a rugby museum that would be used as a tourist attraction throughout the World Cup.
RA chairman Hamish McLennan is keen for Australia to have a one-stop location for the country’s greatest rugby memorabilia, which he says would be staffed by notable identities during the World Cup, if the bid was successful.
World Rugby has a museum at Twickenham in London, while the Ellis Park rugby museum in Johannesburg is one of the world’s most impressive and features a collection of Australian items.
McLennan will lobby the NSW and Queensland governments for funding to bring all of Australia’s rugby artefacts into central locations in Sydney and Brisbane and then taking them around the country during the World Cup.
“We’re going to create the Museum of Rugby in Australia, celebrating our rich and glorious rugby heritage with a definite nod to our great Indigenous players and the evolving women’s game as well,” McLennan told the Herald.
“Only cricket would come close to the long history we have, which goes back into the 1800s with many celebrated moments. I’ll have an announcement on the chair in the next few weeks.
“We’re looking to house the collection in Sydney as well as Brisbane. I’d like it to be housed in Circular Quay so it’s easy to access and perhaps the new Ballymore precinct could be a great venue.
“It’s important memorabilia.”
RA recently discovered in its archives that Cadbury, the Wallabies and Wallaroos’ new major sponsor, had an association with rugby dating back to the late 1880s.
An old Cadbury advertisement, found this week in the Australian rugby archives.
After formalities during the day on Thursday, RA will host an event in the evening featuring a number of celebrities and influential figures.
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley, World Cup-winning coaches Bob Dwyer and Rod McQueen, plus Today Show host Karl Stefanovic will be among the guests.
“We have a special show in store,” McLennan said.
Sport newsletter
Sports news, results and expert commentary delivered straight to your inbox each weekday. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article