Rugby World Cup 2023: Fixtures, Where To Watch And More

As the Rugby World Cup 2023 approaches, anticipation grows for the defending champions, South Africa, as they aim to retain the title they triumphed in back in 2019.

Samoa, one of England’s opponents in the tournament’s pool stage, is expected to have a formidable lineup with the inclusion of former All Blacks and Premiership favorites. The likes of Steven Luatua and Lima Sopoaga have been named in Seilala Mapusua’s training squad. Joining them are Charlie Faumuina, Christian Leali’ifano, Titi Lamositele, and other players with international experience.

A potential newcomer to the Samoan team is So’otala Fa’aso’o, a robust back-rower who recently signed with Perpignan. Additionally, Theo McFarland and Chris Vui, outstanding performers for Saracens and Bristol Bears, have earned their spots in Mapusua’s 40-man squad.

When is the Rugby World Cup in 2023?

The tournament is set to commence on Friday, September 8, with an exciting match between France and New Zealand. The grand finale will take place on Saturday, October 28. This will be one for every rugby fan’s diary – an absolute belter of an opening match!

The 2019 champions, South Africa, will once again be among the favorites, but perennial powerhouse New Zealand will undoubtedly be a tough team to beat. However, a strong European challenge is expected, with France and Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland aiming to make their mark on the World Cup stage.

Where is the RWC 2023 Being Held?

The 2023 Rugby World Cup will take place in France, featuring matches across nine cities and nine stadiums. The highly anticipated final will be held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, which is situated in the vibrant city of Paris.

Here are the stadiums hosting matches and their respective capacities:

Stade de France (capacity: 80,698) – Saint-Denis (Paris)
Stade Vélodrome (67,394) – Marseille
Parc Olympique Lyonnais (59,186) – Lyon
Stade Pierre-Mauroy (50,186) – Lille
Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux (42,115) – Bordeaux
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (41,965) – Saint-Étienne
Allianz Riviera (35,624) – Nice
Stade de la Beaujoire (35,322) – Nantes
Stadium Municipal (33,150) – Toulouse

How to Watch the Rugby World Cup

ITV has secured exclusive broadcasting rights to air the Rugby World Cup in the UK.

In terms of radio coverage, the BBC will provide commentary for every match on Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sounds service. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will have tailored coverage from the BBC.

Amazon Prime will broadcast England’s first three World Cup warm-up games in August, as well as additional fixtures involving other Six Nations teams. England will face Wales in a home-and-away double-header before traveling to Ireland on August 19. The scheduling of their final warm-up match against Fiji at Twickenham, just before heading to France, is still being finalized but is expected to be available on Amazon Prime. The streaming service will also showcase warm-up games such as France against Eddie Jones’ Australia.

What Teams Are in the Rugby World Cup?

A total of 20 teams have qualified for the Rugby World Cup. These teams have been divided into four pools of five teams each. The teams have been allocated to the pools based on world rugby rankings at the time of the tournament draw.

The first band consists of the top four highest-ranked teams at the time of the tournament draw: South Africa, New Zealand, England, and Wales (although any Welsh fan will tell you that’s a miracle based on their current form). The second band includes the next four highest-ranked teams: Ireland, Australia, France, and Japan. The third band comprises the subsequent four teams: Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, and Italy.

Teams in the first three bands qualified automatically for the tournament due to their world rankings. The remaining two bands consist of teams that secured their spots through the qualifying process. These teams include Samoa, Georgia, Uruguay, Tonga, Namibia, Romania, Chile, and Portugal.

With such a diverse lineup of teams, the Rugby World Cup 2023 promises to deliver thrilling matches and intense competition among the world’s best rugby nations.

RWC 2023 Pools (Groups)

Apologies for the oversight. Here is the breakdown of teams in each pool:

Pool A:

New Zealand
France
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

These pools offer an exciting mix of strong rugby nations, ensuring fierce competition throughout the tournament. Each team will strive to secure victories in their respective pools and advance to the knockout stages.

The Pool of Death in the RWC 2023

That’s a tricky one. The two best teams are in Pool A, but you could argue that B, C and D are equally as terrifying for home nations fans.

When is the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final?

The RWC 2023 final will take place on SATURDAY, 28th OCTOBER, at the magnificent Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

It’ll kick off at 8pm UK time and 9pm local time in France. Who will be there, competing for the prestigious Webb Ellis trophy? Find out in our upcoming guide to the RWC Betting Tips.