Springboks 2027 Rugby World Cup fixtures: Kick-off times and dates confirmed

South African rugby supporters had best get ready for the early shift when they prepare for the Springboks’ opening game of the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia next year.

Coach Rassie Erasmus and his team will get their campaign to retain the Webb Ellis Cup — good ol’ “Bill” — started on Sunday, 3 October when they face Italy at 5.45am. They will then continue their Group B fixtures the following Sunday against Georgia (8.45am) before finishing the round-robin phase on Sunday, 17 October, against Romania (1.15pm).

The defending champions will criss-cross Australia as they do so, starting the tournament in Adelaide before moving on to Brisbane and then finishing the first phase of the competition in Perth.

Should they progress as Group B winners, they will remain in the Western Australian capital for the Round of 16, where they will play the third-best team from either Pool D, E or F — pools that involve the likes of Uruguay, Portugal, the US, Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe. Although unlikely, Scotland, Japan or Wales could also potentially be opponents during that round.

That match is scheduled for Saturday, 23 October (12.45pm).

A second-place finish in Group B for the Boks, meanwhile, would see a Round of 16 clash with the winners of Group F — realistically either England or Wales (also in Perth) the following day, also at 12.45pm.

Should the wheels truly come off for the world’s top-ranked and top-seeded team, the Boks could also qualify as one of the best third-placed teams from Group B, E or F. In such a scenario, they would in all likelihood face either Ireland or Scotland from Group D in Melbourne on the Sunday (7.45am).

The 2027 World Cup has been expanded to 24 teams over 52 matches, starting on Friday, 1 October when hosts Australia open the tournament against Hong Kong — who will be making their first appearance at the tournament — in Perth.

The quarter-finals will take place on the weekend of 30–31 October, followed by the semi-finals a week later on 5 and 6 November. The final will take place in Sydney on Saturday, 13 November.

“It’s pleasing that we now know where and when we are playing, and we are fortunate that we have played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney in the last few years in the Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus, via an SA Rugby statement on Tuesday morning. 

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

“The one thing that pops out looking at the schedule is that, should we progress to the playoffs, there will be travel between the round of 16 and quarter-final, which is something we have to factor into our planning, as the flight is just under five hours between Perth and Sydney, and there is a two-hour time difference.

“Over and above that, our likely opponents could be either Australia or New Zealand, and it would be good to see their travel schedules. But obviously, we have to make it through first, which will require a massive effort.

“There’s a lot of hard work ahead in the next 18 months, but we are all very excited for the tournament and we are looking forward to putting the building blocks in place this season and next year before we depart for Australia.”

The Boks are chasing an unprecedented "three-peat" — a third consecutive world championship — and a fifth title overall. Before they attempt that feat, however, they will first have to navigate 2026.

Their first game of the international season in early June will see them face England, followed by Scotland and Wales. They also have a four-match Test series to contemplate against the All Blacks, as well as an outbound tour against Italy, France and Ireland later in the year.

* The full Rugby World Cup 2027 schedule.