Rugby World Cup

The 2023 Rugby World Cup, to be hosted by France, is scheduled to be the tenth men's Rugby World Cup, taking place in the year of the 200th anniversary of the 'invention' of the sport by William Webb Ellis from 8 September to 21 October 2023. The final will take place at the Stade de France.

The opening match as well as the final will take place at the Stade de France. Originally, the tournament was scheduled to last the typical 6 weeks, however, on 23 February 2021 World Rugby announced an additional week to the tournament to accommodate the additional rest day requirement for player-welfare. This means that teams will have a minimum of five rest days for all matches, optimising recovery and preparation for the tournament. It will be the second time France has hosted the Rugby World Cup, having previously hosted the 2007 event. It precedes the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and will take place less than a year before the Olympic opening ceremony.

The defending champions are South Africa.

France 2023 will see the hosts kick off the tournament against three-time champions New Zealand after the match schedule for the Rugby World Cup was announced.

Fabien Galthie’s men will begin their quest for global glory on home soil by welcoming the All Blacks to Stade de France for the opening match on September 8, 2023.

The opening weekend will also include a spectacular double-header in Marseille, starting with 2019 runners-up England launching their Pool D campaign against Argentina on September 9.

That will be followed by the reigning world champions South Africa beginning their title defence against Guinness Six Nations side Scotland the following day in the south of France.

Wales will also begin their Pool C campaign on September 10, with Wayne Pivac’s side facing Fiji in Bordeaux, which will also host Ireland’s opener against a European qualifier the previous day.

Andy Farrell’s Ireland will then face the Springboks in their third Pool B encounter on September 23 before Wales take on Australia in Lyon the following day in Pool C.

The pool phase will also see Italy lock horns with New Zealand on September 29 in Lyon before colliding with Guinness Six Nations rivals France at the same venue on October 6.

Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a truly nationwide tournament involving all of France, with each host city holding a minimum of four games and welcoming at least one RWC 2019 quarter-finalist.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, the 10th edition will also see all teams have a minimum of five rest days between all matches and an increased squad size of 33 players.