Rugby Australia named preferred candidate for 2027 and 2029 World Cups

Australia is set to be announced on Monday morning as World Rugby's preferred candidate to host the 2027 men's and 2029 women's World Cup tournaments.

Confirmation comes as World Rugby, Rugby Australia, and government officials meet to progress the hosting model for both events ahead of a final World Rugby Council vote in Dublin in May.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says hosting two World Cups in the space of three years - which will come off the back of a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 - marks a "once in a generation opportunity".

It could be the shot in the arm the code needs as Australian rugby bosses look to lure fans back to the code.

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Canberra looks set to miss out on hosting men's World Cup games as the ACT government steers clear of high-priced bidding wars for marquee sporting events.

But the capital's World Cup hopes could be revived if the city's political powerbrokers opt to bid for matches in the women's tournament.

"We saw what winning Olympic gold in the sevens in Rio 2016 did for the women's game in this country," Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos said.

"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."

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin says locking Australia in as a host nation for both tournaments can accelerate broadcast, sponsorship and participation opportunities for the code.

"Confirmation of Australia's candidacy represents a major milestone for the global advancement of women's Rugby, completing a roadmap of Rugby World Cup hosting all the way through to 2033 which is supported by the exciting new WXV competition which launches next year," Gilpin said.

Monday's looming announcement comes as Dave Rennie's Wallabies squad convenes on the Gold Coast for its first camp of the year.

Among them is Ben Donaldson, the NSW playmaker who started the year battling for the Waratahs' No.10 jersey, but by July the emerging flyhalf might just be a Wallaby.

The 22-year-old is one of eight uncapped players included in a 40-man squad meeting on the Gold Coast across the next three days as Australia prepares for three home Tests with England in the July international window.

"It was a bit of a fight there with Harro [Will Harrison] and Tane [Edmed] as well, there's some good 10s at the Tahs at the moment which is just really good for competition," Donaldson said about claiming the playmaking role at the Waratahs.

"I'm reasonably happy with my form, bit inconsistent. Obviously, there's a few things - plenty of things - I'm working on that I can do better in games.

"I'm definitely not the complete player yet but one of the main things I'm working on at the moment is just my consistency and especially as a 10, trying to limit some errors."

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