2023 Rugby World Cup
| Coupe du monde de rugby 2023 | |
|---|---|
 We Are Rugby #WeAre2023![1] | |
| Tournament details | |
| Host nation |  France |
| Dates | 8 September – 28 October 2023 |
| No. of nations | 20 |
← 2019 2027 → | |
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It is scheduled to take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023 in nine venues across the country. The opening match and final will take place at the Stade de France. The tournament will take place in the year of the 200th anniversary of the “invention” of the sport by William Webb Ellis.[2] Originally, the tournament was scheduled to last the typical six weeks; however, on 23 February 2021, World Rugby announced an additional week 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 third time France has hosted the Rugby World Cup, having previously hosted the 2007 event and as joint hosts in 1991. 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.
Host country selection[]
World Rugby requested that any members wishing to host the 2023 event were to submit an expression of interest by June 2015. A total of six unions responded. The Italian Rugby Federation were among the members interested, but withdrew from their bid on 28 September 2016. The Argentine Rugby Union and USA Rugby both expressed their interest in hosting the event but ultimately decided against a formal bid. Three bids were officially submitted to World Rugby by the June 2017 deadline.
On 15 November 2017, The French Rugby Federation bid was chosen ahead of bids by the South African Rugby Union and the Irish Rugby Football Union. France had launched its bid on 9 February 2017.[3]
Venues[]
On 17 March 2017, twelve host cities were selected.[4] This list was later reduced to nine cities (excluding Paris, Montpellier and Lens):
| Saint-Denis (Paris) |
Marseille | Décines-Charpieu (Lyon) |
Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Lille) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stade de Franceab | Stade Vélodromea | Parc Olympique Lyonnais | Stade Pierre-Mauroy |
| Capacity: 80,698 | Capacity: 67,394 | Capacity: 59,186 | Capacity: 50,157 |
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| Bordeaux | |||
| Matmut Atlantique | |||
| Capacity: 42,115 | |||
| |||
| Saint-Étienne | Nice | Nantes | Toulouse |
| Stade Geoffroy-Guicharda | Allianz Riviera | Stade de la Beaujoirea | Stadium Municipalab |
| Capacity: 41,965 | Capacity: 35,624 | Capacity: 35,322 | Capacity: 33,150 |
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a Stadium/site used in 2007 Rugby World Cup. b Stadium/site used in 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Qualifying[]
20 teams are set to compete. A total of 12 teams gained automatic qualification to the tournament after finishing in the top three of their pool at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which included France already automatically qualified as host. The remaining eight spaces will be decided by regional competitions followed by a few cross-regional play-offs. The final spot will be decided by a repechage tournament in November 2022.
The below table shows the qualified teams as of 2 November 2019:
| Region | Team | Qualification method |
Previous apps |
Previous best result | World Rugby Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa |  South Africa
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 7 | Champions (1995, 2007, 2019) | |
| Asia |  Japan
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Quarter-finals (2019) | |
| Europe |  England
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Champions (2003) | |
| France
|
Hosts | 9 | Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011) | ||
 Ireland
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Quarter-finals (seven times) | ||
 Italy
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Pool stage | ||
 Scotland
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Fourth place (1991) | ||
 Wales
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Third place (1987) | ||
| Oceania |  Australia
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Champions (1991, 1999) | |
 Fiji
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 8 | Quarter-finals (1987, 2007) | ||
 New Zealand
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Champions (1987, 2011, 2015) | ||
 Samoa
|
Oceania 1 | 8 | Quarter-finals (1991, 1995) | ||
| South America |  Argentina
|
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool | 9 | Third place (2007) |
Draw[]
The pool draw took place on 14 December 2020, in Paris.[5] The draw returned to its traditional place of the year following the previous World Cup, after the end-of-year internationals.
The seeding system from previous Rugby World Cups was retained with the 12 automatic qualifiers from 2019 being allocated to their respective bands based on their World Rugby Rankings on 1 January 2020:
- Band 1: The four highest-ranked teams
- Band 2: The next four highest-ranked teams
- Band 3: The final four directly qualified teams
The remaining two bands were made up of the eight qualifying teams, with allocation to each band being based on the previous Rugby World Cup playing strength:
- Band 4: – Oceania 1, Europe 1, Americas 1, Asia/Pacific 1
- Band 5: – Africa 1, Europe 2, Americas 2, Final Qualifier Winner
This meant the 20 teams, qualified and qualifiers, were seeded thus (world ranking as of 1 January 2020):
| Band 1 | Band 2 | Band 3 | Band 4 | Band 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Pool stage[]
Pool A[]
Team
|
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| France
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Italy
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Americas 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Africa 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 September 2023 | France |
v | New Zealand |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| 9 September 2023 | Italy |
v | Africa 1 | Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne |
| 14 September 2023 | France |
v | Americas 1 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille |
| 15 September 2023 | New Zealand |
v | Africa 1 | Stadium, Toulouse |
| 20 September 2023 | Italy |
v | Americas 1 | Allianz Riviera, Nice |
| 21 September 2023 | France |
v | Africa 1 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| 27 September 2023 | Americas 1 | v | Africa 1 | Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu |
| 29 September 2023 | New Zealand |
v | Italy |
Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu |
| 5 October 2023 | New Zealand |
v | Americas 1 | Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu |
| 6 October 2023 | France |
v | Italy |
Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu |
Pool B[]
Team
|
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ireland
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scotland
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Asia/Pacific 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Europe 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 September 2023 | Ireland |
v | Europe 2 | Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux |
| 10 September 2023 | South Africa |
v | Scotland |
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| 16 September 2023 | Ireland |
v | Asia/Pacific 1 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes |
| 17 September 2023 | South Africa |
v | Europe 2 | Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux |
| 23 September 2023 | South Africa |
v | Ireland |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| 24 September 2023 | Scotland |
v | Asia/Pacific 1 | Allianz Riviera, Nice |
| 30 September 2023 | Scotland |
v | Europe 2 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille |
| 1 October 2023 | South Africa |
v | Asia/Pacific 1 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| 7 October 2023 | Ireland |
v | Scotland |
Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| 8 October 2023 | Asia/Pacific 1 | v | Europe 2 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille |
Pool C[]
Team
|
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Australia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiji
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Europe 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Qualifier Winner | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 September 2023 | Australia |
v | Europe 1 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| 10 September 2023 | Wales |
v | Fiji |
Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux |
| 16 September 2023 | Wales |
v | Final Qualifier Winner | Allianz Riviera, Nice |
| 17 September 2023 | Australia |
v | Fiji |
Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne |
| 23 September 2023 | Europe 1 | v | Final Qualifier Winner | Stadium, Toulouse |
| 24 September 2023 | Wales |
v | Australia |
Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu |
| 30 September 2023 | Fiji |
v | Europe 1 | Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux |
| 1 October 2023 | Australia |
v | Final Qualifier Winner | Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne |
| 7 October 2023 | Wales |
v | Europe 1 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes |
| 8 October 2023 | Fiji |
v | Final Qualifier Winner | Stadium, Toulouse |
Pool D[]
Team
|
Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentina
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Samoa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Americas 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 September 2023 | England |
v | Argentina |
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| 10 September 2023 | Japan |
v | Americas 2 | Stadium, Toulouse |
| 16 September 2023 | Samoa |
v | Americas 2 | Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux |
| 17 September 2023 | England |
v | Japan |
Allianz Riviera, Nice |
| 22 September 2023 | Argentina |
v | Samoa |
Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne |
| 23 September 2023 | England |
v | Americas 2 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille |
| 28 September 2023 | Japan |
v | Samoa |
Stadium, Toulouse |
| 30 September 2023 | Argentina |
v | Americas 2 | Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes |
| 7 October 2023 | England |
v | Samoa |
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille |
| 8 October 2023 | Japan |
v | Argentina |
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes |
Knockout stage[]
The knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup will consist of three single-elimination rounds leading to a final and a third-place playoff. Following a tie in regulation time, two 10-minute periods of extra time will be used to determine a winner. If the scores are tied at the end of extra time, an additional 10-minute "sudden death" period is played, with the first team to score any points being declared the winner. If the score remains tied at the end of extra time, a kicking competition would ensue.
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 14 October – Marseille | ||||||||||
| Winner of Pool C | ||||||||||
| 20 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Runner-up of Pool D | ||||||||||
| Winner of QF1 | ||||||||||
| 14 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Winner of QF2 | ||||||||||
| Winner of Pool B | ||||||||||
| 28 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Runner-up of Pool A | ||||||||||
| Winner of SF1 | ||||||||||
| 15 October – Marseille | ||||||||||
| Winner of SF2 | ||||||||||
| Winner of Pool D | ||||||||||
| 21 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Runner-up of Pool C | ||||||||||
| Winner of QF3 | ||||||||||
| 15 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Winner of QF4 | Bronze final | |||||||||
| Winner of Pool A | ||||||||||
| 27 October – Saint-Denis | ||||||||||
| Runner-up of Pool B | ||||||||||
| Loser of SF1 | ||||||||||
| Loser of SF2 | ||||||||||
Quarter-finals[]
Semi-finals[]
Bronze final[]
Final[]
Broadcasting[]
France – TF1 Group[6]
South Africa - SuperSport
United Kingdom – ITV[7]
United States – NBC Sports[8]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Atout France English Website. "The 2023 Rugby World Cup Slogan is Unveiled ｜ rugbyworldcup.com". us.media.france.fr. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Webb Ellis, William", Retrieved 28 September 2015.
- ^ "Rugby: France launch 2023 World Cup bid", Reuters, 9 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017
- ^ "#France2023 : Douze villes hôtes retenues" (in French). sport24.com. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ rugbybworldcup.com. "Stage set for Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw - Rugby World Cup 2023 ｜ rugbyworldcup.com". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2019 and TF1 continue record broadcast partnership".
- ^ "ITV appointed UK rights holder for men's and women's Rugby World Cup events". rugbybworldcup.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
- ^ "NBC Sports Group acquires exclusive U.S. media rights to Rugby World Cup". 22 May 2017.
External links[]
- 2023 Rugby World Cup
- Rugby World Cup tournaments
- 2023 in rugby union
- 2023–24 in French rugby union
- International rugby union competitions hosted by France
- Scheduled sports events
- September 2023 sports events in Europe
- October 2023 sports events