The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets under way on 8 September with France taking on New Zealand in a mouth-watering curtain-raiser in Paris.
The All Blacks arrive as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for what would be a record fourth time, having just won the Rugby Championship in convincing fashion. But hosts France can be sensational on their day and it is set to be the perfect showdown to kickstart the seven-week tournament.
The fixture schedule sees Six Nations champions Ireland, Eddie Jones’ struggling Australia and England all get their campaigns under way the following day, with Steve Borthwick’s side undertaking a tricky assignment of facing in-form Argentina in Marseille, in what is likely to be a decisive Pool D match.
Reigning world champions South Africa and Scotland face off in the same city the following day in Pool B, before Wales begin their tournament against Fiji in Bordeaux.
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.
Rugby World Cup 2023 full fixtures and schedule
POOL MATCHES
•Friday, Sept 8 - France v New Zealand, Stade de France, 8.15pm BST
•Saturday, Sept 9 - Italy v Namibia, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 12.00pm
•Saturday, Sept 9 - Ireland v Romania, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 2.30pm
•Saturday, Sept 9 - Australia v Georgia, Stade de France, 5pm
•Saturday, Sept 9 - England v Argentina, Stade Vélodrome, 8pm
•Sunday, Sept 10 - Japan v Chile, Stadium Municipal, 12pm
•Sunday, Sept 10 - South Africa v Scotland, Stade Vélodrome, 4.45pm
•Sunday, Sept 10 - Wales v Fiji, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 8pm
•Thursday, Sept 14 - France v Uruguay, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm
•Friday, Sept 15 - New Zealand v Namibia, Stadium Municipal, 8pm
•Saturday, Sept 16 - Samoa v Chile, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm
•Saturday, Sept 16 - Wales v Portugal, Allianz Riviera, 4.45pm
•Saturday, Sept 16 - Ireland v Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, 8pm
•Sunday, Sept 17 - South Africa v Romania, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm
•Sunday, Sept 17 - Australia v Fiji, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm
•Sunday, Sept 17 - England v Japan, Allianz Riviera, 8pm
•Wednesday, Sept 20 - Italy v Uruguay, Allianz Riviera, 4.45pm
•Thursday, Sept 21 - France v Namibia, Stade Vélodrome, 8pm
•Friday, Sept 22 - Argentina v Samoa, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm
•Saturday, Sept 23 - Georgia v Portugal, Stadium Municipal, 1pm
•Saturday, Sept 23 - England v Chile, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm
•Saturday, Sept 23 - South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France, 8pm
•Sunday, Sept 24 - Scotland v Tonga, Allianz Riviera, 4.45pm
•Sunday, Sept 24 - Wales v Australia, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 8pm
•Wednesday, Sept 27 - Uruguay v Namibia, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 4.45pm
•Thursday, Sept 28 - Japan v Samoa, Stadium Municipal, 8pm
•Friday, Sept 29 - New Zealand v Italy, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 8pm
•Saturday, Sept 30 - Argentina v Chile, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm
•Saturday, Sept 30 - Fiji v Georgia, Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, 4.45pm
•Saturday, Sept 30 - Scotland v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm
•Sunday, Oct 1 - Australia v Portugal, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm
•Sunday, Oct 1 - South Africa v Tonga, Stade Vélodrome, 8pm
•Thursday, Oct 5 - New Zealand v Uruguay, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 8pm
•Friday, Oct 6 - France v Italy, Parc Olympique Lyonnais, 8pm
•Saturday, Oct 7 - Wales v Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm
•Saturday, Oct 7 - England v Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm
•Saturday, Oct 7 - Ireland v Scotland, Stade de France, 8pm
•Sunday, Oct 8 - Japan v Argentina, Stade de la Beaujoire, 12pm
•Sunday, Oct 8 - Tonga v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm
•Sunday, Oct 8 - Fiji v Portugal, Stadium Municipal, 8pm
QUARTER-FINALS
•Saturday, Oct 14 - Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D, Stade Vélodrome, 4pm
•Saturday, Oct 14 - Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A, Stade de France, 8pm
•Sunday, Oct 15 - Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C, Stade Vélodrome, 4pm
•Sunday, Oct 15 - Winner Pool 4 v Runner-up Pool B, Stade de France, 8pm
SEMI-FINALS
•Friday, Oct 20 - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
•Saturday, Oct 21 - Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Stade de France, 8pm
BRONZE-MEDAL MATCH
•Friday, Oct 27 - Runner-up SF 1 v Runner-up SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
FINAL
•Saturday, Oct 28 - Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
Source - The Telegraph / Independent
- Agencies
