Rugby World Cup 2023 will take place in France from 8 September-28 October with matches played in nine venues across 10 host cities. The tournament will be the 10th men’s Rugby World Cup and the second to be hosted by France after a memorable event in 2007.
RWC 2023 will take place in a year when the sport celebrates 200 years since Rugby School pupil William Webb Ellis was credited with inventing the game of rugby football by showing “a fine disregard for the rules” in catching the ball and running with it in 1823. The showpiece event in men’s 15s, Rugby World Cup 2023 will feature 20 teams with 48 matches played across 51 days.
Rugby World Cup 2023 Host Venues
Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Home to the city’s Ligue 1 football club, Stade de Bordeaux opened its doors in May 2015, less than two weeks before it hosted the semi-finals of that year’s Top 14 play-offs.
Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Built as a home for Lille OSC, Stade Pierre Mauroy was opened in August 2012 and three months later hosted its first rugby match as France beat Argentina 39-22.
OL Stadium, Lyon
Opened in January 2016, the home of Olympique Lyonnais has since hosted a series of international events, including rugby.
OL Stadium had been open for only four months when the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals were played at the new stadium.
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
A historic stadium that has been renovated three times since it opened in 1937, Stade Vélodrome hosted two quarter-finals at RWC 2007.
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Stade de la Beaujoire played host to one of Rugby World Cup’s most iconic matches, as Fiji ran in four tries to beat Wales 38-34 and book their place in the quarter-finals.
Stade de Nice, Nice
Home to Ligue 1 club OGC Nice, Stade de Nice is another RWC 2023 host venue that also staged matches during UEFA Euro 2016 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Built for the FIFA World Cup 1998, France’s national stadium has since also become home for the country’s rugby team.
South Africa beat England in both of those matches, and the Springboks will return to the iconic stadium on 23 September, 2023 to play Ireland — the first time that fixture will be played at Rugby World Cup.
Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
The oldest stadium selected as a host venue for RWC 2023, Stade Geoffroy Guichard was opened on 13 September, 1931, and has since undergone three renovations, each one ahead of its use at a major football tournament.
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Built to be a FIFA World Cup 1938 host venue, Stadium de Toulouse has since undergone three renovations and staged matches when football’s global showpiece returned to France 60 years later, and again during UEFA Euro 2016.
Rugby World Cup Fixtures
The 2023 Rugby World Cup runs from Friday 8 September to Saturday 28 October, with matches played across France.
South Africa will defend their title after beating England 32-12 in the 2019 final in Japan. Eddie Jones will want to claim the trophy before he bows out as England’s boss, but hosts France and three-time winners New Zealand will fancy their chances too. Romania have replaced Spain in Pool B after the latter’s appeal against their disqualification was dismissed in June 2022. Spain fielded an ineligible player during qualification.
Namibia secured their place at a seventh successive World Cup by beating Kenya 36-0 in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup in Aix-en-Provence. They take their place in Pool A. Chile will compete at their first-ever Rugby World Cup after beating the USA over two legs to qualify as Americas Two and take the final spot in Pool D, while Tonga completed Pool B by beating Hong Kong 44-22 in the Asia Pacific One play-off.
There is just one place left at RWC 2023. It will be decided at the Final Qualification Tournament involving Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA due to take place in late 2022. You can view the full fixture list here.
