The 2023 Rugby World Cup is shaping up as a particularly intriguing edition with the international game arguably more competitive than ever.
Four major contenders: Ireland, France, New Zealand, and South Africa have emerged, but an unbalanced draw has opened the door for nations in the other half to set up a deep tournament run.
After a first foray to Japan four years ago, the competition returns to a previous host nation, with 20 teams again competing.
Chile made their tournament debut after beating Canada and the USA in the Americas qualifying, while Portugal is set to return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the men’s tournament:
When and where is the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
The Rugby World Cup 2023 will be held in France. The tournament begins in Paris on 8 September with the host nation facing New Zealand All Blacks in a heavyweight clash and will conclude with the final back at the Stade de France on 28 October.
How can I watch Rugby World Cup 2023 Live Online?
You can easily catch the RWC 2023 live & on-demand online from anywhere. Simply, Follow the link and catch live streaming instantly without annoying ads or freezing.
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Which nations will be competing?
Pool A: France, New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia.
Pool B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania.
Pool C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal.
Pool D: England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile.
Which cities will matches be held in?
Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Nantes, Toulouse
Rugby World Cup 2023 Schedule
Pool stages
Friday 8 September: France vs New Zealand, Pool A (Paris, 8 pm BST)
Saturday 9 September: Italy vs Namibia, Pool A (Saint-Etienne, 12 pm)
Saturday 9 September: Ireland vs Romania, Pool B (Bordeaux, 2.30 pm)
Saturday 9 September: Australia vs Georgia, Pool C (Paris, 5 pm)
Saturday 9 September: England vs Argentina, Pool D (Marseille, 8 pm)
Sunday 10 September: Japan vs Chile, Pool D (Toulouse, 12pm)
Sunday 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland, Pool B (Marseille, 4.45 pm)
Sunday 10 September: Wales vs Fiji, Pool C (Bordeaux, 8 pm)
Thursday 14 September: France vs Uruguay, Pool A (Lille, 8 pm)
Friday 15 September: New Zealand vs Namibia, Pool A (Toulouse, 8 pm)
Saturday 16 September: Samoa vs Chile, Pool D (Bordeaux, 2 pm)
Saturday 16 September: Wales vs Portugal, Pool C (Nice, 4.45 pm)
Saturday 16 September: Ireland vs Tonga, Pool B (Nantes, 8 pm)
Sunday 17 September: South Africa vs Romania, Pool B (Bordeaux, 2 pm)
Sunday 17 September: Australia vs Fiji, Pool C (Saint-Etienne, 4.45 pm)
Sunday 17 September: England vs Japan, Pool D (Nice, 8 pm)
Wednesday 20 September: Italy vs Uruguay, Pool A (Nice, 4.45 pm)
Thursday 21 September: France vs Namibia, Pool A (Marseille, 8 pm)
Friday 22 September: Argentina vs Samoa, Pool D (Saint-Etienne, 4.45 pm)
Saturday 23 September: Georgia vs Portugal, Pool C (Toulouse, 1 pm)
Saturday 23 September: England vs Chile, Pool D (Lille, 4.45 pm)
Saturday 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland, Pool B (Paris, 8 pm)
Sunday 24 September: Scotland vs Tonga, Pool B (Nice, 4.45 pm)
Sunday 24 September: Wales vs Australia, Pool C (Lyon, 8 pm)
Wednesday 27 September: Uruguay vs Namibia, Pool A (Lyon, 4.45 pm)
Thursday 28 September: Japan vs Samoa, Pool D (Toulouse, 8 pm)
Friday 29 September: New Zealand vs Italy, Pool A (Lyon, 8 pm)
Saturday 30 September: Argentina vs Chile, Pool D (Nantes, 2 pm)
Saturday 30 September: Fiji vs Georgia, Pool C (Bordeaux, 4.45 pm)
Saturday 30 September: Scotland vs Romania, Pool B (Lille, 8 pm)
Sunday 1 October: Australia vs Portugal, Pool C (Saint-Etienne, 4.45 pm)
Sunday 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga, Pool B (Marseille, 8 pm)
Thursday 5 October: New Zealand vs Uruguay, Pool A (Lyon, 8 pm)
Friday 6 October: France vs Italy, Pool A (Lyon, 8 pm)
Saturday 7 October: Wales vs Georgia, Pool C (Nantes, 2 pm)
Saturday 7 October: England vs Samoa, Pool D (Lille, 4.45 pm)
Saturday 7 October: Ireland vs Scotland, Pool B (Paris, 8 pm)
Sunday 8 October: Japan vs Argentina, Pool D (Nantes, 12 pm)
Sunday 8 October: Tonga vs Romania, Pool B (Lille, 4.45 pm)
Sunday 8 October: Fiji vs Portugal, Pool C (Toulouse, 8 pm)
QUARTER-FINALS
Saturday 14 October: Quarter-Final 1 (Winner Pool C vs Runner-Up Pool D) – Marseille, 4 pm
Saturday 14 October: Quarter-Final 2 (Winner Pool B vs Runner-Up Pool A) – Paris, 8 pm
Sunday 15 October: Quarter-Final 3 (Winner Pool D vs Runner-Up Pool C) – Marseille, 4 pm
Sunday 15 October: Quarter-Final 4 (Winner Pool A vs Runner-Up Pool B) – Paris, 8 pm
SEMI-FINALS
Friday 20 October: Semi-Final 1, Paris, 8 pm
Saturday 21 October: Semi-Final 2, Paris, 8 pm
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
Friday 27 October, Paris, 8 pm
FINAL
Saturday 28 October, Paris, 8 pm
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 to 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.
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