The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France kicks off in September of this year as nations from around the world compete for the sport’s top prize.
South Africa was the winner of the last tournament held in Japan in 2019, beating England in the final and will be among the favorites again this year.
However, a strong European challenge is expected, especially from hosts France, who are seeking back-to-back Grand Slams at this year’s Six Nations, and Ireland, which has not been able to make their best strides at the World Cup.
Where?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be played in nine stadiums in nine cities in France. The final will be played on Saturday, October 28th at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Paris).
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France Stadium (capacity – 80,698) – Saint-Denis (Paris)
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Stade Velodrome (67,394) – Marseille
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Parc Olympique Lyonnais (59,186) – Lyon
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Stade Pierre-Mauroy (50.186) – Lille
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The new Stade de Bordeaux (42.115) – burgundy
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Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (41.965) – Saint-Etienne
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Allianz Riviera (35,624) – Beautiful
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Stade de la Beaujoire (35,322) – Nantes
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Stadium Municipality (33,150) – Toulouse
When?
The tournament kicks off on Friday, 8 September, with France facing New Zealand in the first game of the tournament. The final will be played on Saturday, October 28.
How do I track?
ITV won exclusive broadcast rights to show the Rugby World Cup in England. We will update you with specific channels for each match in the tournament once announced by the broadcaster.
Who’s playing?
A total of 20 teams qualified for the Rugby World Cup. These are divided into four pools of five each, with a team of five ‘groups’ in each pool.
Group one included the four highest ranked teams from the time of the draw for the tournament (South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales). The second group consisted of the next four highest ranked teams (Ireland, Australia, France, Japan) and the third group consisted of the next four (Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy).
Both sides in the top three groups were automatically eligible for participation in the tournament based on world ranking, while the other two groups consisted of sides that entered the tournament through elimination (Samoa, Georgia, Uruguay, Tonga, Namibia, Romania, Chile, Portugal).
Who is in which pool?
Pool A
New Zeland
France
Italy
Uruguay
Namibia
Pool B
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Tongan
Romania
Pool C
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Georgia
Portugal
Pool D
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Chile
What is the latest 2023 Rugby World Cup news?
The latest news about the Rugby World Cup was far from positive, with Clause Atcher, once chairman of the organizing committee, claiming that an extensive smear campaign led to his sacking.
His dismissal came amid investigations into allegations that he headed “a climate of terror”, with the offices of the organizing committee raided after French prosecutors “opened a preliminary investigation into nepotism, influence trading, corruption and other related crimes”.
Shortly after Atcher’s dismissal, Bernard Laporte, vice president of World Rugby and president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), was found guilty of bribery and corruption, and yet another cloud descended on the tournament.
Rugby World Cup 2023 full fixtures and schedule
POOL MATCHES
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Friday, September 8 – France – New Zealand, Stade de France, 20:00 GMT
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Saturday, September 9 – Italy – Namibia, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 12.00pm
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Saturday, September 9 – Ireland – Romania, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 14.30
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Saturday, September 9 – Australia – Georgia, Stade de France, 17:00
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Saturday, September 9 – England – Argentina, Stade Velodrome, 20:00
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Sunday, September 10 – Japan – Chile, Stadium Municipal, 12:00
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Sunday, September 10 – South Africa – Scotland, Stade Velodrome, 4:45 PM
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Sunday, September 10 – Wales – Fiji, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 20:00
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Thursday, September 14 – France – Uruguay, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 20:00
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Friday, September 15 – New Zealand – Namibia, Municipal Stadium, 20:00
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Saturday, September 16 – Samoa – Chile, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 14:00
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Saturday, September 16 – Wales – Portugal, Allianz Riviera, 4:45 PM
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Saturday, September 16 – Ireland – Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, 20:00
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Sunday, September 17 – South Africa – Romania, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 14:00
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Sunday, September 17 – Australia – Fiji, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45 PM
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Sunday, September 17 – England – Japan, Allianz Riviera, 20:00
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Wednesday, September 20 – Italy – Uruguay, Allianz Riviera, 16:45
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Thursday, September 21 – France – Namibia, Stade Velodrome, 20:00
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Friday, September 22 – Argentina – Samoa, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45 PM
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Saturday, September 23 – Georgia – Portugal, Stadium Municipal, 13:00
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Saturday, September 23 – England – Chile, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4:45 PM
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Saturday, September 23 – South Africa – Ireland, Stade de France, 20:00
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Sunday, September 24 – Scotland – Tonga, Allianz Riviera, 16:45
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Sunday, September 24 – Wales – Australia, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 20:00
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Wednesday, September 27 – Uruguay – Namibia, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 4:45 PM
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Thursday, September 28 – Japan – Samoa, Municipal Stadium, 20:00
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Friday, September 29 – New Zealand – Italy, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 20:00
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Saturday, September 30 – Argentina – Chile, Stade de la Beaujoire, 14:00
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Saturday, September 30 – Fiji – Georgia, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 4:45 PM
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Saturday, September 30 – Scotland – Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 20:00
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Sunday, October 1 – Australia – Portugal, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45 PM
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Sunday, October 1 – South Africa – Tonga, Stade Velodrome, 20:00
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Thursday, October 5 – New Zealand – Uruguay, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 20:00
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Friday, October 6 – France – Italy, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 20:00
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Saturday, October 7 – Wales – Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, 14:00
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Saturday, October 7 – England – Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4:45 PM
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Saturday, October 7 – Ireland – Scotland, Stade de France, 20:00
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Sunday, October 8 – Japan – Argentina, Stade de la Beaujoire, 12:00
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Sunday, October 8 – Tonga – Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 16:45
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Sunday, October 8 – Fiji – Portugal, Stadium Municipal, 20:00
Quarterfinals
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Saturday, October 14 – Winner Pool C – Second Pool D, Stade Vélodrome, 4:00 pm
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Saturday, October 14 – Winner Group B – Second Pool A, Stade de France, 20:00
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Sunday, October 15 – Winning Group D – Second Pool C, Stade Vélodrome, 16:00
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Sunday, October 15 – Winner Pool 4 – Second Group B, Stade de France, 20:00
semi-finals
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Friday, October 20 – Winner QF 1 – Winner QF 2, Stade de France, 20:00
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Saturday, October 21 – Winner QF 3 – Winner QF 4, Stade de France, 20:00
bronze final
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Friday, October 27 – Second SF 1 – Second SF 2, Stade de France, 20:00
end
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Saturday, October 28 – Winner SF 1 – Winner SF 2, Stade de France, 20:00
final odds
France – 5/2
New Zeland – 11/4
South Africa – 5/1
Ireland – 5/1
England – 11/2
Wales – 25/1
Argentina – 25/1
Scotland – 25/1
50/1 – BAR