In a shocking decision, the Rugby World Cup will be held in France in 2023, after the sport’s governing body’s Council went against the recommendations of a comprehensive review report in a secret ballot on Wednesday.
The World Rugby Board proposed South Africa, but the Council members chose France, which hosted the competition in 2007. Ireland was knocked out in the first round after receiving eight of the 39 votes available, compared to 13 for South Africa and 18 for France.
France received 24 votes in the second round, compared to 15 for South Africa. Read more in detail below aboutRugby World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, Host, Date, Fixtures, Tickets, Groups, Pools, and much more information is covered.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be the first without Canada in the Men’s Rugby World Cup. From 1987 to 2019, the North Americans competed in every RWC. They were unable to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup after losing on aggregate to the United States in the North American finals and then to Chile in the North American vs South American runners-up series.
Everything was determined in Valparaiso. Chile bounced back from a 22-21 loss in Langford to beat Canada at home. Chile won their largest game in history, 33-24, while Canada was eliminated from the RWC 2023 qualifications.
Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, Host, Date, Fixtures, Tickets, Groups, Pools
The three competing countries did not vote in the election. The remaining Six Nations and SANZAR countries each received three votes, with the remaining votes distributed among the six regional associations and minor rugby nations. A total of 20 votes were required.
South Africa had been favorites after coming out on top of the evaluation report, having hosted the event in 1995 and winning it in their maiden participation after missing the first two World Cups due to the apartheid sporting restrictions.
Qualifiers
With qualifying action taking place in Africa, Europe, South America, and Oceania, July is a crucial month on the road to the Rugby World Cup 2023.
In Oceania 1, Samoa and Tonga face off over two legs for the top spot, Russia, Portugal, and Spain compete in Europe, and the action culminates in the Rugby Africa Cup 2021 and the Sudamérica Rugby Championship.
URUGUAY CAPTAIN VILASECA ON NATION’S HISTORIC RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 QUALIFICATION and CHILE CLOSER THAN EVER TO FIRST RUGBY WORLD CUP
Host
As we stated at the outset, the Rugby World Cup will be held in France in 2023, following a surprising decision by the sport’s governing body’s Council, which went against the recommendations of a detailed assessment report in a secret ballot on Wednesday.
Date
2023 Rugby World Cup will begin on Friday, 8 September, and ends on Saturday, 28 October.
Fixtures
POOL A – New Zealand, France, Italy, Americas 1, Africa 1
Fri 8 Sep France v New Zealand (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sat 9 Sep Italy v Africa 1 (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)
Thu 14 Sep France v Americas 1 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Fri 15 Sep New Zealand v Africa 1 (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)
Wed 20 Sep Italy v Americas 1 (Stade de Nice, Nice)
Thu 21 Sep France v Africa 1 (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Wed 27 Sep Americas 1 v Africa 1 (Parc OL, Lyon)
Fri 29 Sep New Zealand v Italy (Parc OL, Lyon)
Thu 5 Oct New Zealand v Americas 1 (Parc OL, Lyon)
Fri 6 Oct France v Italy (Parc OL, Lyon)
POOL B – South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia/Pacific 1, Europe 2
Sat 9 Sep Ireland v Europe 2 (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Sun 10 Sep South Africa v Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sat 16 Sep Ireland v Asia/Pacific 1 (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
Sun 17 Sep South Africa v Europe 2 (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Sat 23 Sep South Africa v Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sun 24 Sep Scotland v Asia/Pacific 1 (Stade de Nice, Nice)
Sat 30 Sep Scotland v Europe 2 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Sun 1 Oct South Africa v Asia/Pacific 1 (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sat 7 Oct Ireland v Scotland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sun 8 Oct Asia/Pacific 1 v Europe 2 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
POOL C – Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1, Final qualification winner
Sat 9 Sep Australia v Europe 1 (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sun 10 Sep Wales v Fiji (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Sat 16 Sep Wales v Final qualification winner (Stade de Nice, Nice)
Sun 17 Sep Australia v Fiji (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)
Sat 23 Sep Europe 1 v Final qualification winner (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)
Sun 24 Sep Wales v Australia (Parc OL, Lyon)
Sat 30 Sep Fiji v Europe 1 (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Sun 1 Oct Australia v Final qualification winner (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)
Sat 7 Oct Wales v Europe 1 (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
Sun 8 Oct Fiji v Final qualification winner (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)
POOL D – England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1, Americas 2
Sat 9 Sept England v Argentina (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sun 10 Sep Japan v Americas 2 (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)
Sat 16 Sep Oceania 1 v Americas 2 (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Sun 17 Sep England v Japan (Stade de Nice, Nice)
Fri 22 Sep Argentina v Oceania 1 (Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)
Sat 23 Sep England v Americas 2 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Thu 28 Sep Japan v Oceania 1 (Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)
Sat 30 Sep Argentina v Americas 2 (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
Sat 7 Oct England v Oceania 1 (Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)
Sun 8 Oct Japan v Argentina (Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)
Quarter-finals
Sat 14 Oct Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sat 14 Oct Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sun 15 Oct Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sun 15 Oct Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Semi-finals
Fri 20 Oct Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2 (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Sat 21 Oct Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4 (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Third-place match
Fri 27 Oct Third-place Play-off (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Final
Sat 28 Oct Final (Stade de France, Saint-Denis)
Tickets
As the two-year countdown to the 2023 Rugby World Cup begins, organizers are selling 250,000 tickets. The latest ticketing phase for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has seen a total of 250,000 tickets go on sale.
The most recent round of tickets will be accessible to “2023 Family members” who signed up before today’s deadline of noon.
Members will get access to an exclusive 24-hour pre-sale period.
From 6 p.m. Central European Time on Thursday, tickets will go on general sale to the general public (September 30).
Tickets will be available on the official website, tickets.rugbyworldcup.com, on a first-come, first-served basis.
