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Your guide to the 2023 Rugby World Cup
All roads lead to France this autumn for what promises to be one of the greatest sporting showdowns on earth at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The heat is on as 20 teams prepare to battle it out over 48 matches from 8 September to 28 October.
This is the 10th Rugby World Cup and only the second time that France has played host to the contest. As the Rugby World Cup only takes place every four years and alternates between the northern and southern hemisphere, there is on average just a once-a-decade chance for rugby fans from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to catch the action near to home.
With matches being played in nine cities, for fans, families and friends it’s also a fantastic opportunity to combine exploring France on a road trip while following the top teams.
Car hire FranceWhen is the Rugby World Cup?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup takes place in France at nine venues across the country from 8 September to 28 October. The four home nations teams are playing their opening qualifying matches at stadiums in the following cities: Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Nice, Lille, Lyon, and Saint-Denis, Paris.
Getting to the Rugby World Cup
Booking with Avis in France is sure to prove the winner for fans planning a road trip to the 2023 Rugby World Cup destinations. Avis’ modern fleet has something for everyone from premium cars and estates for larger groups to smaller ultra fuel-efficient models as well as hybrid and electric vehicles. If you’ve not driven in France before or want the latest advice, check out our updated France road rules guide.
When and where are the home nations playing at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
It’s easy to follow the opening Rugby World Cup action as the four ‘home’ nations, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will all be playing at just two venues for the start of the competition on Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 September.
Ireland, ranked No1 in the world, are the first of the four teams to kick off their campaign leading the way in Pool B for their match against Romania at Stade de Bordeaux at 14:30 on Saturday 9 September.
Meanwhile, England will be under the floodlights later that evening at Stade de Marseille beginning their Pool D match against Argentina at 20:00.
Scotland open their campaign the following day at Stade de Marseille at 16:45 for their first Pool B match against South Africa.
Wales are the last of the home nations teams to play on the opening weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup with their match in Pool C at Stade de Bordeaux against Fiji starting at 20:00.
The following weekend, 16-17 September, fans will converge on Nice to watch England play Japan and Wales take on Portugal while Ireland head to Nantes to face Tonga with a rest break for Scotland.
A busy third weekend of action 23-24 September sees Ireland meet South Africa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris while England take on Chile and Scotland play Tonga in Nice. In a big weekend for the home nations, Wales will line up against Australia in Lyon.
The championship’s fourth weekend 30 September-1 October sees England, Ireland and Wales take a break from the action while Scotland line up against Romania in Lille.
The final weekend of qualifiers 7-8 October is another huge one for home nations fans with Ireland and Scotland going head to head against each other at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis. England travel to Lille to play Samoa, while Wales will be up against Georgia in Nantes.
Where are the home nations playing in the Pool qualifiers?
England (Pool D): Marseille (v Argentina), Nice (v Japan), Lille (v Chile) and Lille (v Samoa)
Ireland (Pool B): Bordeaux (v Romania), Nantes (v Tonga), Paris (v South Africa), Paris (v Scotland)
Scotland (Pool B): Marseille (v South Africa), Nice (v Tonga), Lille (v Romania) and Paris (v Ireland)
Wales (Pool C): Bordeaux (v Fiji), Nice (v Portugal), Lyon (v Australia), Nantes (v Georgia)
How do you get to the matches Rugby World Cup in France?
Still need to sort out your 2023 Rugby World Cup travel plans? Soak up the atmosphere and take a road trip to the rugby via our Avis rental locations at each of the seven venues for home nations fans travelling to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Here’s where to base yourself to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool qualifiers.
Marseille – for England and Scotland fans for the qualifiers. Quarter finals will also take place here.
Nearest airport/ Avis location: Marseille Provence Airport, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Marseille.
Bordeaux – for Ireland and Wales fans
Nearest airport/Avis location: Bordeaux Airport, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Bordeaux.
Nantes – for Ireland and Wales fans
Nearest airport/ Avis location: Nantes Atlantique Airport, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Nantes.
Nice – for England, Scotland and Wales fans
Nearest airport/Avis location: Nice Côte D’Azur Airport, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Nice.
Lille – for England and Scotland fans
Nearest airport/ Avis location: Lille Lesquin Airport. Our team is also at the Lille Europe Eurostar TGV Train Station, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Lille.
Lyon – for Wales fans
Nearest airport/Avis location: Lyon Saint Exupery Airport, plus check out other Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore near Lyon.
Paris Saint-Denis – for Ireland and Scotland fans for the qualifiers, plus quarter final matches. The semi-finals and final will also take place here.
Nearest airport/Avis location: Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Gare du Nord, plus check out other local Avis locations, great road trips and inspirational places to explore around Paris.
Where are the Rugby World Cup quarter finals?
The quarter finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup take place over the weekend of 14-15 October with home nations teams potentially lining up in Marseille and Paris. Wales and England fans may be lucky to be heading to Marseille to watch the quarter finals while Ireland and Scotland fans could be in Paris if their teams win though to this stage.
14 October 16:00 Stade de Marseille Pool C winners – (potentially Wales) v Pool D runner up – (potentially England)
14 October Stade de France 20:00, Saint-Denis, Paris, Pool B winners (potentially Ireland or Scotland) v Pool A runner up
15 October, Stade de Marseille 16:00, Pool D winners (potentially England) v Pool C runner up (potentially Wales)
15 October, Stade de France 20:00, Saint-Denis, Paris, Pool A winners v Pool B runner up (potentially Ireland or Scotland)
Where is the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
Who will be the lucky fans to see their teams go all the way? The semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup take place on 20 and 21 October at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris. The final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup takes place at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris at 20:00 on 28 October 2023.
Where and how to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup in the UK
ITV has the exclusive broadcast rights to show the Rugby World Cup in the UK. Radio commentary will be available only on the BBC, across Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds service.