Australia winning the right to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup would be an important step in the rejuvenation of the sport in the country after a few lean years, former captain John Eales said at the launch of the bid on Thursday. The goal-kicking lock forward played a part in both of Australia’s Rugby World Cup triumphs, running out for his 10th test in the 1991 final at Twickenham and raising the Webb Ellis Cup as captain in Cardiff in 1999. “There’s no question Australia does a great job in running large, international events and the 2027 World Cup will be no different,” Eales, a member of the bid advisory committee, told Reuters. And then you have the halo effect after the World Cup.”The bid projects, if the 2027 tournament is awarded to Australia, a total financial output, both direct and indirect, of $2.5bn forecast for the event. Cheika, who had coaching spells with Leinster, Stade Francais and the New South Wales Waratahs, took charge of the Wallabies in 2014 before stepping down in 2019 after their quarter-final exit at the World Cup.

Source: The Irish Times May 20, 2021 08:03 UTC