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ugby Australia chairman, Hamish McLennan, has announced two-time World Cup winner Phil Kearns, will lead the Rugby World Cup 2027 Bid as executive director.

Kearns will lead the bid by engaging with Federal, State and Local Government, as well as international stakeholders including World Rugby Member Unions, and will be a key conduit for the Rugby World Cup 2027 Bid Advisory Board.

McLennan said Kearns’ experience through his playing career, combined with his corporate career, which includes previous posts as chief executive of Centric Wealth, managing director at InterRISK Australia, board director for AVJennings, Venues NSW, and Coolabah Capital, will put Rugby Australia in the strongest possible position to win the rights to host the 2027 World Cup.

“Phil has an impeccable international reputation both in the corporate sector and with his network of contacts throughout the rugby world,” McLennan said.

“Phil will be front and centre of Rugby World Cup bid team and will lead our international relations to put Rugby Australia in the strongest possible position to win the right to host the 2027 showpiece.

“As part of his role, Phil will be spending time overseas to be a key contact with the World Rugby Member Unions, to showcase our bid and to highlight why we would be a tremendous host in 2027,” he said.

New executive director of the Rugby World Cup 2027 Bid, Phil Kearns, said he understands the importance of hosting the Rugby World Cup and is proud to be a part of the bid process.

“I’m very proud to accept the role and want to thank Hamish and Sir Rod [Eddington, Rugby World Cup 2027 Bid Advisory Board chairman] for their consideration as we prepare our bid to host the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027,” Kearns said.

“I know what it takes to win a World Cup on the field in Wallaby gold and now I’m enormously excited to put in the work to win the right to host a World Cup here in Australia.

“The World Cup in 2027 would be transformational for the game in this country.

“The financial windfall it would bring would spark the Australian economy as we rebuild from the impact of COVID-19 and then gives us the opportunity to invest back into the grassroots of the game,” he said.

Kearns will start his new role on September 7, reporting to McLennan as well as Eddington.