The much-anticipated fixtures were officially unveiled this week, confirming that the Boks will face Gli Azzurri in their opening Pool match in Perth. It will be the perfect stage for the reigning world champions to set the tone early, with thousands of South African supporters expected to turn out in force across Australia.

After their opener in Western Australia, the Boks will then fly across the length of the country, travelling east to Brisbane for their clashes against Georgia and Romania. It will mark only the Springboks’ second appearance in Perth, a city known for its passionate South African expatriate community, which is expected to create a strong “home-away-from-home” atmosphere.

Damian Willemse - X

The 2027 tournament will also usher in a new format, with a Round of 16 being introduced for the first time. As a result, a strong Pool campaign will be crucial, making it imperative for the Boks to hit the ground running and build momentum early in the competition.

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the release of the fixtures, saying it provides valuable clarity for planning, even though the World Cup remains some way off.

“It’s pleasing that we now know where and when we are playing,” said Erasmus. 

“We are fortunate that we’ve played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney in recent years during the Championship, which gives us a good understanding of the conditions and travel demands.”

Rassie Erasmus - Morgan Piek

“We can now go full steam ahead with our planning and preparation, and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we are as fresh and as well prepared as possible for the tournament.”

Erasmus added that the logistical challenges of the competition are already firmly on the radar.

“Our operations and logistics team will start working through the finer travel details in the coming weeks, while the coaches and high-performance staff will have in-depth discussions on how best to manage the players to get the most out of them on the field.”

“One thing that stands out is that, should we progress to the play-offs, there will be travel between the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals. That’s something we have to factor in, with flights of just under five hours between Perth and Sydney and a two-hour time difference.”

Kurt-Lee Arendse - Springboks

“Over and above that, our likely opponents could be either Australia or New Zealand, and it will be interesting to see their travel schedules as well. But first things first – we have to earn our place there, which will require a massive effort.”

“There’s a lot of hard work ahead over the next 18 months, but we’re extremely excited about the challenge and looking forward to laying the building blocks this season and next year before we head to Australia.”

Meanwhile, the Springboks will kick off their 2026 season against England in the Nations Cup in July. They are also actively exploring the possibility of securing a warm-up Test before facing the English at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Springbok Rugby World Cup 2027 Fixtures

Pool Stage:
Sunday, 3 October – 14:15 (SA time 5:45): Springboks v Italy – Adelaide Oval
Sunday, 10 October – 16:45 (SA time 8:45): Springboks v Georgia – Brisbane Stadium
Sunday, 17 October – 19:15 (SA time 13:15): Springboks v Romania – Perth Stadium

Round of 16:
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October – Perth Stadium / Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

Quarter-finals:
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 October – Stadium Australia, Sydney / Brisbane Stadium

Semi-finals:
Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November – Stadium Australia, Sydney

Final:
Saturday 13 November – 20:00 (SA time 11:00) – Stadium Australia, Sydney

Morgan Piek OFM Sport