Rugby World Cup – Page 3 – Sydney Spectaculars

Sydney/Gadigal Confirmed To Host 13 ‘Rugby World Cup’ 2027 Matches Including The Final While Losing Opening Match To Perth/Boorloo

Sydney/Gadigal has been confirmed to host 13 matches for the Rugby World Cup 2027 – Australia including the Final, though it has missed out on the opening match to Perth/Boorloo & thus the Opening Ceremony and the Capping Ceremony for the Australian team, the Wallabies & their 1st opponent. Sydney/Gadigal will also host 5 Pool Stage matches, 2 Round Of 16 matches, 2 Quarterfinals, both Semi-Finals & the Bronze Final.

*Rugby World Cup* 2027 – Australia Host Cities Announcement at The Theatre Bar
Photograph: Destination New South Wales

Apart from Perth/Boorloo, which will host 7 matches, 5 other cities were announced to host matches. The other 5 are:

Brisbane/Meeanjin (10 matches)
Melbourne/Narrm (8 matches)
Adelaide/Tarntanya (6 matches)
Newcastle/Awabakal-Worimi (4 matches)
Townsville/Gurambilbarra (4 matches)

*Rugby World Cup* 2027 – Australia Host Cities
Image: *Rugby World Cup* 2027 – Australia

These cities were selected for their vibrant culture, world-class hospitality & scenic landmarks.

Adelaide/Tarntanya, Newcastle/Awabakal-Worimi & Townsville/Gurambilbarra will all host only Pool Stage matches.

Brisbane/Meeanjin, Melbourne/Narrm & Perth/Boorloo will all host 2 Round-Of-16 matches and 5 Pool Stage matches though Brisbane/Meeanjin will also host 2 Quarter-Finals, all but Perth/Boorloo will have an additional Pool Stage match while Perth/Boorloo will host the opening Pool Stage match.

With Perth/Boorloo hosting the opening Pool Stage match, this will mean they will also host the Opening Ceremony and prior to that, the Capping Ceremony for the Wallabies & their 1st opponent.

The last time Australia hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2003 these were hosted by Sydney/Gadigal with the Capping Ceremony including a fireworks display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge & 1 barge on the water.

*Rugby World Cup* 2003 – Australia *Capping Ceremony* Fireworks
Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation\

Sydney/Gadigal will still hold capping ceremonies but only for those teams playing their 1st match of the tournament in Sydney/Gadigal if any.

The subsequent pre-match Opening Ceremony also included pyrotechnics on the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House in the opening segment.

However, with Sydney/Gadigal hosting the Final still, a post-match Harbour fireworks display, featuring the Bridge & 2 barges, as also seen in 2003 is still possible. An illumination of the Sydney Opera House in gold for the Wallabies is all but certain. A Bridge Effect is extremely unlikely, though a drone show should not be ruled out.

The tournament is projected to generate AUD$1.3billion in direct visitor expenditure from more than 250,000 international visitors of which 200,000 & AUD$600 million will enter New South Wales (NSW) & its’ economy.

For the host cities announcement, the Webb Ellis Cup was brought to Sydney/Gadigal:

The Webb Ellis Cup in Sydney.
Photograph: *Rugby World Cup* 2027 – Australia

The full inventory of host venues & the location of where Australia will play in the Pool Stage will be confirmed later this year.

The Rugby World Cup 2027 – Australia will be held between Friday the 1st of October & Saturday the 13th of November 2027.

The selection of these incredible host cities reflects our commitment to bring Rugby World Cup to as many Australians as possible & maximise the tournament’s positive impact and sporting legacy in all host communities. Australia’s iconic cities & rich culture will create an extraordinary atmosphere for fans & players alike, uniting an entire nation for 6 unforgettable weeks. We look forward to working with host cities to make this tournament one for the ages.
Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair

Rugby World Cup is among the planet’s biggest sporting events & Australia is incredibly excited to welcome the world to the 2027 edition. Australia has a rich history of hosting major tournament. Indeed, we co-hosted the 1st ever Rugby World Cup almost 40 years ago & I have no doubt this event will captivate and enthral the hundreds of thousands attending in-stadium & the hundreds of millions viewing around the world.

From the positive economic impacts to the energising of the fan base to the inspiration provided to the next generation of players, Rugby World Cup 2027 will leave a legacy that will be felt in Australia for many years to come & as for the players, representing your country at a home Rugby World Cup is the absolute pinnacle.

It’s hard to put into words how significant a Rugby World Cup on home soil is & to have the host cities confirmed brings another level of excitement and anticipation.

I have vivid memories of being a young boy, living in country New South Wales with my family when Australia last held the tournament in 2003 & what that buzz was like for the local community. As players, Rugby World Cup is certainly in the back of our minds & we know the whole country will be right behind us in a little of 2 years time.
Harry Wilson, ‘Wallabies’ Captain

Staging the finals & having more matches than any other state demonstrates just how attractive New South Wales is as a destination for global sporting events.

To all those keen rugby fans across the globe, it’s time to lock in your travel plans. Not only will you get to watch some fantastic sport, but you will also get to tour the best state in the world, home to extraordinary national parks and unparalleled Harbour views.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier

‘Sydney Spectaculars’ At Risk Due To Proposed Glebe Island Housing Development

Circular Quay drone shows, Vivid Sydney water shows, Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour, Australia SailGP & fireworks from barges over Sydney Harbour at any time of the year are under threat from a proposed high-density housing development at Glebe Island. This does not affect Sydney NYE2024 (the upcoming edition).

Glebe Island is home to a port with 260 metres of deep waterfront wharf space, where Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour‘s enormous stage is prepared before been moved to Fleet Steps. Barges & pontoons are also moored at Glebe Island for the preparation of pyrotechnic displays & drone shows held from them. For the pyrotechnics, cranes are used to load the fireworks onto the barges & pontoons while for both drones & fireworks, the barges & pontoons are then moved into Sydney Harbour (or in the drone shows’ case, moored at Campbells’ Cove) for the displays. The same also applies for the annual water show held in Cockle Bay during Vivid Sydney, whose water pump infrastructure is first prepared at Glebe Island while Australia SailGP requires the delivery of 120 shipping containers.

Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE), the most significant annual pyrotechnic event on Sydney Harbour, uses 6 barges and 4 pontoons. Without these, the display would be reduced to just the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House & city buildings. Fireworks displays at any other time of year & drone/water shows as well as Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour & Australia SailGP will be impossible to be held.

And according to Adam Huie of Banks Events, who has helped produce Sydney Spectaculars (the events, not the blog) since 1997, that’s what will happen if Glebe Island is no longer a port.

First things first, Glebe Island is a bit of a misnomer. It was an island originally, but it doesn’t exist anymore. It was joined to the mainland just over a century ago but now, fast forward to 2016.

On the 14th of November 2016, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced Sydney Metro West, an underground rapid transit line. One of its proposed stations is to be at The Bays precinct, “Sydney’s new innovation hub where 95 hectares of land is being regenerated”.

Green: Glebe Island, Brown: Reclaimed Land, Blue Line: Sydney Metro West (under construction), Blue Boxes: Sydney Metro West Stations (under construction).

At the time, the land regeneration wasn’t to include Glebe Island, which was instead marked as “for further study”.

The Bays Precinct Urban Renewal Area In 2014
Image: *The Sydney Morning Herald*

And indeed, further study it was, in secret. On the 25th of July this year, The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the NSW Government had secretly commissioned a review into Glebe Island. The now not-so-secret review is being undertaken by Michael Schur, a consultant who was a former NSW Treasury secretary in 2011, who will also review the non-cruise ship terminal portion of the White Bay foreshore. He will be assessing options including:

Retaining the ports with no nearby high-density housing
Moving the ports for nearby high-density housing
Building a hybrid model

The proposal by the NSW Government to turn it into high-density housing is made due to the now-under construction The Bays Metro Station, which would be able to handle large amounts of passengers & therefore, potential residents. The NSW Government later admitted the review was real.

Tom Forrest, Urban Taskforce Chief Executive said Glebe Island had the potential to be Sydney’s next Barangaroo which he described as “vibrant, open & perfect” but industry wants to stay at Glebe Island.

For example, the Port Authority of NSW, a corporation of the NSW Government, while supporting the Schur review, is opposed to the Glebe Island port closing down or being relocated. As noise, pollution & truck movements are all key considerations in whether the hybrid model can work, they even warned against that option, saying “sensitive uses” near ports & shipping threatened to upset operations. It is this position that has led event producers to not make a collective submission.

The NSW Liberal Party is also opposed to the relocation while Stuart Aryes, Urban Development Institute Of Australia, Chief Executive said a mixed-use precinct “could be a new jewel in the Sydney Harbour crown”.

The City Of Sydney, in a statement (below), gave a response which sounds like a wait and see approach with supreme confidence. The confidence is justified as Glebe Island/White Bay has not always been the location the pyrotechnic barges been prepared from. For example, in 1996, Wooloomooloo was the location for the set-up of the main barge used in the 9pm Family Fireworks that year. It relocated to White Bay/Glebe Island the following year.

However, Adam Huie told Sydney Spectaculars (the blog this time) that Wooloomooloo is “now occupied by other uses and unavailable”. You can read his full comments, which were published by The Daily Telegraph, at the bottom of this article.

The review is likely to be published by the end of the year.

The Sydney NYE2024 Glebe Island media call is on Friday the 27th of December at 10am & it wouldn’t be a surprise if questions are asked there about this situation.

Sydney NYE2024 is on at 7:30pm on the 31st of December while Australia SailGP returns on the 8th-9th of February with Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour 2025 being held between March 21 and April 20 & will be musical Guys & Dolls this edition.

There is a range of things that you could do with Glebe Island that are better than the way it has been used for a long period of time & one of those is obviously housing.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Of Australia

If the government has an announcement to make, it will be made at an appropriate time.
NSW Government Spokesperson

The harbour is our jewel in the crown & Glebe Island supports that gem. Our harbour is also more complex & multifaceted than people realise so while we excel at events, they need a platform supporting them.
Margy Osmond, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia Chief Executive Officer

The government’s own department is telling them that this is a bad idea – that should tell you all you need to know.
Natalie Ward, NSW Legislative Councillor

Any proposed plans for the Glebe Island site is a matter for the state government.

Our experience over the years has meant we are adept at working around evolving changes to the event’s production to ensure we continue to deliver one of the world’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve celebrations.
City Of Sydney Spokesperson

(Barangaroo) That’s the sort of vision we need to see. Maintaining Sydney as a quasi-working harbour was a prospect that was abandoned by governments 30 years ago. Continuing to operate a hybrid model ensures the Bays Precinct will fail to deliver its potential. The last thing we want is to keep that giant hardstand area in order to satisfy the old Maritime Services Board.
Tom Forrest, Urban Taskforce Chief Executive

Sydney will struggle to be a better city without Glebe Island. The thought that the fireworks & other major events could be in jeopardy is truly alarming. Access to Glebe Island for preparing events is vital for the events sector & for Sydney’s economy, tourism and culture.
Paul Nicolau, Business Sydney Executive Director

We live here because of the working harbour.
Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont Action Group Founder

We use Glebe Island for a lot of events that mean so much to this city.

Because the Port Authority has had management of the site and their support for events is strong. We’ve seen that as the state government supporting our events but this report that’s coming has given everyone the jitters. We don’t know what is going on. These events are too important to Sydney. People around the world know us for our NYE celebrations. It would be terrible if we had to scale that back because a necessary work site was not available.

There’s quite a number of events that use that space as an essential part of their work. There’s Australia Day, Vivid, SailGP and Opera On The Harbour. They would all have major issues putting on some of their events without Glebe Island.

The drone show for Vivid in June required 110m of wharf space at Glebe Island for 4 weeks to build a barge & install the equipment allowing 800 drones to take off. Every city in the world that SailGP operates in, they deliver essentials by ship & set up on a wharf. If Sydney doesn’t have Glebe Island port, where are they going to go? All these events need waterfront access on the harbour.

People have spent years trying to work out how to deliver the New Year’s Eve fireworks if Glebe Island suddenly wasn’t available. We’ve never come up with a solution. The only sensible option would be to scale back on the event & surely no one wants that. Sydney has one of the best fireworks displays in the world, but the event could not be done the way it’s currently done without that Glebe Island facility.

I’d laugh at anyone suggesting (Port Botany, Kembla, Newcastle) that. There’s no way you’d be loading barges there & then shipping them here. Logistics require clear weather windows of opportunity. It would be unworkable, virtually impossible but why does that even have to be considered when we’ve got a working wharf right here?
Adam Huie, Banks Events Producer

‘Rugby World Cup’ 2027 – Australia Visual Identity Unveiled

The visual identity for the Rugby World Cup 2027 – Australia (men’s edition) was unveiled today.

With a focus on a “new era” in the sport, which is a reference to increased inclusivity, excitement & ambition, the visual identity utilises an orange hue to represent the Earth & the Sun’s warmth while lines symbolise multiple physical phenomena like coastlines, rivers & rock layers, which converge onto the Rugby World Cup ball, with the letters ‘RWC’ in it. The ‘RWC’ ball is a permanent feature of the logo, having been introduced for the Rugby World Cup 2025 – England (women’s edition).

Woven into the visual identity is an Indigenous tapestry by Riki Salam from We Are 27 Creative that symbolises 3 significant spiritual elements of First Nations cultures – land, sea & the sky.

Together, the whole visual identity represents a united Australia’s diverse geography.

The unveiling of the visual identity was accompanied by the publishing of the official website for the men’s tournament: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2027/

You can also check out more of the visual identity here, with this image showing the tournament’s qualification process for the 12 remaining slots:

With permission, cultural knowledge & deep respect, our goal was to represent the diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands cultures from across Australia in a contemporary design. I’m truly impressed with the outcome & how seamlessly my work integrates into the Rugby World Cup 2027 visual identity while also contributing to greater global awareness of Indigenous peoples & cultures.
Riki Salam, ‘We Are 27 Creative’ Indigenous Artist

As preparations gather momentum, we are excited to unveil the visual identity for Australia 2027 bringing the tournament to life for all rugby enthusiasts out there. With its rich cultural heritage & beautiful landscapes, Australia will be a fantastic backdrop to kick-off rugby’s new era of entertainment and openness & we look forward to welcoming rugby fans and newcomers to this nation-wide celebration of rugby.
Chris Stanley, ‘Rugby World Cup’ 2027 – Australia Managing Director

Australia 2027 represents more than just a tournament. It is a powerful statement about the future of our sport & the way we can grow the game by making it even more inclusive and entertaining. The expanded format, combined with a fresh, bold vision and visual identity, will showcase the very best of rugby to audiences worldwide & cement its own place in Rugby World Cup history with a fantastic display of Australian cultures and a positive rugby & societal legacy for Australians & the sport across the region.
Brett Robinson, World Rugby Chair

Rugby World Cups 2027-29 Considered An ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular Once Again

As of 28th October 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is considering the Rugby World Cups 2027-29 as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular. This follows the removal of the status on the 1st day of competition of the 2023 men’s tournament, following the lack of activation during the FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia & New Zealand 2023.

The reasoning behind the returning of the status is as follows:

A 3-minute fireworks display, using 2 barges & the upper arch and catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as a Bridge Effect featured after the Rugby World Cup 2003 – Australia Final.
In 2019, World Rugby decided that the words ‘Rugby World Cup’ would now refer to both the men’s and women’s editions.
Sydney is the likely host city of the Opening Match & Final of the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 was removed as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular on 5th April 2023 & despite having 13 Sydney landmarks, including the western sails of the Sydney Opera House, lit up in green & gold (except in 1 case where there was no green) on the night of a Round Of 16, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, 3rd Place Playoff or Final match involving the Matildas, this was insufficient for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 to be returned as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular, particularly as it had no post-final Sydney Harbour fireworks display. The full reasons are detailed here.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 had an event attendance of 79,000 per event day.
The Rugby World Cup – France 2023 (men’s edition) had an event attendance of 90,000 per event day.
As the attendance of the men’s tournament of the Rugby World Cup is now higher than the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is of the opinion that, as of 28th October 2023, the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 should have its status as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular returned.

This is a major boost for Sydney’s event industry, culture & night-time economy. We will review this decision again after the Rugby World Cup – England 2025 (women’s edition).

A few days before our decision, World Rugby’s Council announced the biggest changes to the men’s tournament since it was introduced in 1987. The pool draw will be held “as late as possible” while the men’s tournament will be expanded from 20 to 24 teams with the Pool Stage featuring 2 additional pools but with 1 less team per pool (i.e. 6 pools of 4 teams). The tournament is also shortened by 1 week in the Pool Stage with 1 less weekend match day.

The decision to expand Rugby World Cup 2027 to 24 teams is logical & the right thing to do. With its love of sport & major events, Australia is the perfect place to do just that.
Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby Chairman

After the Pool Stage, the top 2 teams in each pool plus the best 4 3rd-place teams will qualify for a new a Round Of 16 prior to the Quarter-Finals.

This is a fantastic outcome for the Local Operating Company as we prepare to transfer from future host to next host of the men’s Rugby World Cup. Importantly, the decision made by the Council today will enable the Local Operating Company to move ahead with certainty & finalise the hosting details for the Rugby World Cup in Australia. We look forward to working in partnership with the Australian Government, our State/Territory governments & Rugby Australia over the coming months to do so.
Sir Rod Eddington, Rugby World Cups 2027-29 Board Independent Chairman

The Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 will begin on Friday the 1st of October 2027 with the men’s tournament, with its final on Saturday the 13th of November 2027. The women’s tournament will be held in 2029 with dates yet to be determined but are likely to be held roughly in the same months as the preceding men’s tournament.

Today’s decision is the culmination of a process that began in May 2022 with a new Rugby World Cup hosting model, greater collaboration on reform of the international calendar & recognition that the sport needed to evolve.

A reduced pool phase with a more regular cadence of matches & the introduction of a Round Of 16 makes for a compelling & competitive pool phase where every match counts. To be able to achieve this new format in a reduced window while preserving important player welfare considerations is a huge step forward for the game & great for fans and players.
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive

Collateral Damage: Rugby World Cups 2027-29 No Longer Considered An ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular

As of 22nd August 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is no longer considering the Rugby World Cups 2027-29 as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular.

The reasoning behind this judgement is as follows:

A 3-minute fireworks display, using 2 barges & the upper arch and catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as a Bridge Effect featured after the Rugby World Cup 2003 – Australia Final.
A drone show is the modern equivalent of the Bridge Effect.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 had an event attendance of 79,000 per event day.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 was removed as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular on 5th April 2023. The reasons, at the time, are detailed here.
19 days into FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, 13 Sydney landmarks, including the western sails of the Sydney Opera House, were lit up in gold. In all but one case, green was also added. These illuminations were done on the night of a Round Of 16, Quarter-Final, Semi-Final, 3rd Place Playoff or Final match involving the Matildas. However, this was insufficient for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 to be readded as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular. The reasons are detailed here.
No Sydney Harbour (Bridge) fireworks display or drone show featured during the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.
In 2019, World Rugby decided that the words ‘Rugby World Cup’ would now refer to both the men’s and women’s editions.
The Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003 (men’s edition) had an event attendance of 66,000 per event day.
The Rugby World Cup – Japan 2019 (men’s edition) had an event attendance of 65,000 per event day.
The Rugby World Cup – New Zealand 2021 (women’s edition held in 2022) had an event attendance of 15,000 per event day.
Sydney is the likely host city of the Opening Match & Final of the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29.
As the Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003, Japan 2019 & New Zealand 2021 all had attendances lower than the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, this means no more than 13 Sydney landmarks, particularly the western sails of the Sydney Opera House, should be lit up in gold during the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29. In all but one case, green is added as well. This would happen only IF the Wallabies or the Wallaroos make it to the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Final, 3rd Place Playoff or Final of those respective future tournaments. Also, no Sydney Harbour (Bridge) fireworks display or drone show should now be expected during those tournaments.

As these illuminations were insufficient to be considered an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is of the opinion that the same should apply to the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29, which is, as stated above, now very likely to be an event of less attendance & importance as the just-concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Therefore, as of 22nd August 2023, Sydney Spectaculars has decided to downgrade the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 from an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular to just another Sydney Spectacular but not a ‘flagship’ Sydney Spectacular as it is not an annual event.

This is another major blow for Sydney’s event industry, culture & night-time economy. As, like with the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, there is a very likely lack of a major Sydney Harbour (Bridge) fireworks display & drone show (which would replace the Bridge Effect), it will be another notable absence in the history of major events in Sydney, reducing the significance or chance of hosting future mega events like the men’s FIFA World Cup.

If Sydney Spectaculars finds out that the either of the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 will be treated like the Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003 (except with a drone show instead of a Bridge Effect), we will immediately resume coverage of the event but at this stage, it looks very unlikely. There is still every chance for a projection on the Sydney Opera House but. as stated above, this is insufficient. A stand-alone drone show is possible but such a drone show could have been held anywhere in the world – it just would be themed to Australia.

To bring Sydney’s mega event status back to where it belongs, Sydney Spectaculars will also lobby to World Rugby, the New South Wales (NSW) Government & Rugby Australia until those future tournaments are held to put on a Sydney Opera House/Harbour (Bridge) fireworks display & drone show during the Capping and Opening Ceremonies & after the Final as well as tournament-long projection/light shows on the Sydney Opera House/Harbour Bridge during those future tournaments after the failure to do so by the NSW Government, Football Australia & FIFA during the recently-concluded FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.

We will review this decision after the Rugby World Cup – France 2023 (men’s edition), which begins today, as well as the Rugby World Cup – England 2025 (women’s edition).

We wish the Rugby World Cups – Australia 2027-29 every success.