World Rugby have announced Australia as the preferred candidate to host Rugby World Cup 2029, which means Rugby Australia are now in the box seat to host the biggest events in both the men's and women's game.
The news comes just a week after Australia's Federal Government committed itself to ongoing financial support of both the 2027 and 2029 World Cup events.
The announcement comes as a major boost for RA as they prepare for meetings with World Rugby and government officials before the final World Rugby Council vote in Dublin in May.
"We're delighted to be named preferred candidate to host Rugby World Cup 2029," Rugby Australia chairman Haish McLennan said. "This is a truly wonderful addition to our bid for Rugby World Cup 2027 and we would love to welcome the pinnacle event on the women's XVs calendar to our shores for the first time in 2029.
"Today's announcement is another step in the right direction for Rugby in Australia as we head toward the final decision by World Rugby Council in May. We continue to be buoyed by the spirit of collaboration in which we are working with World Rugby.
"Hosting two Rugby World Cups is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia and the Rugby community and all aspirational future Wallaroos and Wallabies who will shortly be kicking off their season across the country. The fact we have reached this stage in the process as preferred candidate for both the men's and women's tournaments is something the Australian Rugby community should be incredibly proud of."
RA previously bid for the 2021 World Cup, but we're pipped by fierce rivals New Zealand, now with the backing of World Rugby, RA's CEO Andy Marinos believes a World Cup in Australia can have a similar effect on the women's game as the Rio Olympics sevens gold medal.
"Hosting Rugby World Cup 2029 would be a significant boost for women's Rugby in this country," Marinos said. "We saw what winning Olympic gold in the sevens in Rio 2016 did for the women's game in this country.
"Hosting the marquee event on the XVs calendar would provide a similar lift for the women's game here, presenting an aspirational pathway to young female athletes who can see a home World Cup as a genuine target on the horizon, while also encouraging further investment into development and infrastructure."
If Australia's bid is successful, future World Cup events will be mapped out all the way to 2033 with England the preferred candidate for 2025 and the USA currently in exclusive talks with World Rugby to host the 2033 event, while they also look to do the double by hosting the 2031 World Cup two years earlier.