The highly anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup is set to kick off in France this Friday, September 8th, with the grand finale scheduled for October 28th. This 10th edition of the prestigious tournament promises exhilarating matches, fierce competition, and thrilling moments. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Rugby World Cup:
Participating Teams
The tournament commences with 20 teams divided into four pools, each consisting of five teams:
POOL A: France (hosts), 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
Venues
Matches will be held at nine world-class stadiums across France, each offering a unique atmosphere for fans and players. The final showdown will take place at the iconic Stade de France, boasting a seating capacity of just over 80,000.
The venues are as follows:
Stade de Bordeaux
Stade Pierre-Mauroy
OL Stadium
Stade de Marseille
Stade de la Beaujoire
Stade de Nice
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Stadium de Toulouse
Schedule
Mark your calendars with the schedule of pool matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place playoff, and, of course, the grand final. All times are in GMT:
Past Winners
Over the course of nine previous Rugby World Cup editions, New Zealand and South Africa have emerged as the most successful teams, each clinching the championship three times. Here’s a glimpse of the past winners:
1987: New Zealand beat France 29-9
1991: Australia beat England 12-6
1995: South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12
1999: Australia beat France 35-12
2003: England beat Australia 20-17
2007: South Africa beat England 15-6
2011: New Zealand beat France 8-7
2015: New Zealand beat Australia 34-17
2019: South Africa beat England 32-12
What’s New
The 2023 Rugby World Cup introduces some exciting innovations. Kickers will face a shot clock, granting them 90 seconds for conversions and 60 seconds for penalties. Additionally, the tournament will employ the TMO (Television Match Official) bunker system, allowing referees to show yellow cards, while off-field officials review the offense and can potentially upgrade the card to red. This system has already been utilized during World Cup warm-up matches.
Betting Odds
The odds for the potential winners of the 2023 Rugby World Cup are as follows, according to leading bookmakers:
William Hill
New Zealand: 11/4
France: 3/1
South Africa: 7/2
Ireland: 9/2
Australia: 12/1
England: 16/1
Bet365
New Zealand: 11/4
France: 3/1
South Africa: 10/3
Ireland: 9/2
Australia: 11/1
England: 16/1
Broadcasters
The Rugby World Cup will be broadcast worldwide through various official broadcasters, ensuring fans from different regions can enjoy the matches. Here are some of the key broadcasters:
Asia Pacific & Oceania: beIN Sports, Stan, Sky NZ, Stuff, Fiji TV
Europe: ProSieben, Telenet, Sportklub, Viaplay, Sky Italia, Ziggo, Saran Sport, Movistar, TF1
South Africa & Sub-Sahara: SuperSport
Middle East & North Africa: STARZPLAY
North America: NBC
As the rugby world eagerly awaits the kickoff, fans can look forward to a thrilling and action-packed tournament filled with unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for all the excitement of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France!
