Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Wallabies are riding high ahead ahead of the Rugby World Cup, with next year’s tournament to be the biggest sporting event in Australia since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Thursday marked one year until the competition kicks off, with an expanded field of 24 nations – four more than at France 2023 – playing 52 matches in seven cities.
The countdown was celebrated at Sydney’s Circular Quay, which will be a hub for an expected 250,000 international visitors, who will spend an estimated $1.3 billion during the tournament.
Australia had their worst ever showing in 2023, bowing out in the pool rounds for the first time.
But former Wallabies star turned commentator Tim Horan said the current form of the Australian side, who upset reigning world champions South Africa in Perth last Sunday, could unite the nation.
“Similar to the ’95 Rugby World Cup in South Africa where Nelson Mandela used sport, but particularly rugby, to unite the country … we can do that here in Australia,” Horan said.
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh had similar high hopes for the Wallabies, who won the 1991 and 1999 editions and finished runner-up in 2003 – the last one home soil – and in 2015.
“I remember when I was quite young at 21 years of age in the ’91 World Cup where you didn’t understand the enormity of playing in a World Cup”, Waugh said.
“What happened in France was incredible in ’23, and it’ll be just as big, if not bigger, here in a year’s time”.
Fans from 164 countries have already scooped up more than 1.3 million tickets with the last batch going on sale this week.
Tournament organisers gave fans a taste of what’s to come in a year’s time, embracing the global popularity of the sport.
An iconic Australian Hills Hoist was propped up beside Sydney harbour at Thursday’s event, with T-shirts of the 24 competing nations hung from it.
Australia’s official game ball was turned into a seven-metre-tall inflatable and attending fans had the opportunity to get up close with the golden Webb Ellis Cup.
The World Cup has prompted the federal government pitch in $90 million to promote the tournament, with part of the funding to be used to facilitate development programs, coaching and facilities in the Pacific Islands.
