Springboks’ 2027 Rugby World Cup path confirmed

Boks begin their title defence in Adelaide

South Africans finally have dates to circle on the calendar. World Rugby has released the full 2027 Rugby World Cup schedule, mapping out exactly where the Springboks will chase a historic third consecutive world title.

The Boks open their campaign against Italy on Sunday 3 October at the Adelaide Oval. It will be only the second time they’ve played in Adelaide after a Rugby Championship clash there in 2022. Early risers back home will need to prepare for another dawn kickoff with the match scheduled for 05:45 SA time.

A week later, the team heads to Brisbane to face Georgia on 10 October, followed by Romania in Perth on 17 October. All three fixtures fall on Sundays, which feels perfectly timed for those classic South African rugby mornings with strong coffee and loud living rooms.

New format, new pressure points

The 2027 tournament includes a round of 16 for the first time. The top two teams in every pool, plus the four best-performing third-placed teams, will advance.

If the Boks finish first or second in Pool B, they will play their round of 16 fixture in Perth. Quarter-finals move to Sydney and Brisbane, with the semi-finals and final hosted at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

For South African supporters, this sets up the possibility of a blockbuster knockout clash against either Australia or New Zealand, depending on how their pools shake out.

Rassie Erasmus already plotting the details

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the fixture clarity, saying the announcement helps streamline planning for the next 18 months. He was quick to point out that most of the venues are familiar from recent Rugby Championship seasons.

One standout detail for Erasmus is the travel between Perth and Sydney should the Boks reach the quarter-finals. The five-hour flight and two-hour time difference could impact preparation, recovery and team rhythm. Managing the travel load, he says, will be a crucial part of the team’s planning.

A busy year awaits before Australia

Before the Boks even get to the World Cup, 2026 is packed with heavyweight Tests. They are hoping for a warm-up match in June before diving into the Nations Championship in July with home Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.

Then comes one of the most anticipated battles on the global rugby calendar. The All Blacks and Springboks face off four times in the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, including two showdowns in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town, before taking the rivalry to Baltimore in the United States.

An away Test against the Wallabies follows in September, before the Boks travel to Europe for Nations Championship matches against Italy, France and Ireland.

South Africans already buzzing

The moment the schedule dropped, fans across the country began debating travel logistics, knockout scenarios and which fixtures are must-watch. With the memory of back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs still fresh, the idea of a three-peat has ignited early excitement.

In true South African style, supporters are already planning braais, gatherings and those early morning rituals that have become synonymous with World Cup rugby.

Full Springbok fixtures for Rugby World Cup 2027

Pool stage:
• 3 October: South Africa vs Italy, Adelaide
• 10 October: South Africa vs Georgia, Brisbane
• 17 October: South Africa vs Romania, Perth

Round of 16:
• 23–24 October in Perth or Melbourne

Quarter-finals:
• 30–31 October in Sydney or Brisbane

Semi-finals:
• 5–6 November in Sydney

Final:
• 13 November in Sydney at Stadium Australia

{Source: SABC Sport}

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