What is the opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

On Friday, 8 September (20:00 CEST+1) at the Stade de France, prior to the long-awaited opening match between France and New Zealand, Rugby World Cup 2023 will begin with a very special Opening Ceremony

It’s finally here! The Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures run from Friday 8 September to Saturday 28 October, with the matches played right across France. And both the incredible opening game and the final will be held at Stade de France in Paris.

We are set for an explosive event, with Ireland Grand Slam champions and world No 1, but hosts France still Rugby World Cup favourites and three-time winners New Zealand just behind them in the bookmakers’ eyes. And of course there’s South Africa, who will defend their title after beating England 32-12 in the 2019 final in Japan.

Romania replaced Spain in Pool B after the latter’s appeal against their disqualification was dismissed in June 2022. Spain fielded an ineligible player during qualification.

Namibia secured their place at a seventh successive World Cup by beating Kenya 36-0 in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup in Aix-en-Provence. They take their place in Pool A.

Chile will compete at their first-ever Rugby World Cup after beating the USA over two legs to qualify as Americas Two and take the final spot in Pool D, while Tonga completed Pool B by beating Hong Kong 44-22 in the Asia Pacific One play-off.

And finally, Portugal qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 after defeating USA in a two-legged showdown. They are in Pool C.

Rugby World Cup 2023 Fixtures

POOL A – New Zealand, France, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia

Fri 8 Sept France v New Zealand (8.15pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sat 9 Sept Italy v Namibia (noon, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

Thu 14 Sept France v Uruguay (8pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

Fri 15 Sept New Zealand v Namibia (8pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

Wed 20 Sept Italy v Uruguay (4.45pm, Stade de Nice, Nice)

Thu 21 Sept France v Namibia (8pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Wed 27 Sept Uruguay v Namibia (4.45pm, Parc OL, Lyon)

Fri 29 Sept New Zealand v Italy (8pm, Parc OL, Lyon)

Thu 5 Oct New Zealand v Uruguay (8pm, Parc OL, Lyon)

Fri 6 Oct France v Italy (8pm, Parc OL, Lyon)

POOL B – South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Romania, Tonga

Sat 9 Sept Ireland v Romania (2.30pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Sun 10 Sept South Africa v Scotland (4.45pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Sat 16 Sept Ireland v Tonga (8pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)

Sun 17 Sept South Africa v Romania (2pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Sat 23 Sept South Africa v Ireland (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sun 24 Sept Scotland v Tonga (4.45pm, Stade de Nice, Nice)

Sat 30 Sept Scotland v Romania (8pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

Sun 1 Oct South Africa v Tonga (8pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Sat 7 Oct Ireland v Scotland (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sun 8 Oct Tonga v Romania (4.45pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

POOL C – Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal

Sat 9 Sept Australia v Georgia (5pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sun 10 Sept Wales v Fiji (8pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Sat 16 Sept Wales v Portugal (4.45pm, Stade de Nice, Nice)

Sun 17 Sept Australia v Fiji (4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

Sat 23 Sept Georgia v Portugal (1pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

Sun 24 Sept Wales v Australia (8pm, Parc OL, Lyon)

Sat 30 Sept Fiji v Georgia (4.45pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Sun 1 Oct Australia v Portugal (4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

Sat 7 Oct Wales v Georgia (2pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)

Sun 8 Oct Fiji v Portugal (8pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

POOL D – England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile

Sat 9 Sept England v Argentina (8pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Sun 10 Sept Japan v Chile (noon, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

Sat 16 Sept Samoa v Chile (2pm, Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

Sun 17 Sept England v Japan (8pm, Stade de Nice, Nice)

Fri 22 Sept Argentina v Samoa (4.45pm, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne)

Sat 23 Sept England v Chile (4.45pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

Thu 28 Sept Japan v Samoa (8pm, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse)

Sat 30 Sept Argentina v Chile (2pm, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)

Sat 7 Oct England v Samoa (4.45pm, Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille)

Sun 8 Oct Japan v Argentina (noon, Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes)

Quarter-finals

Sat 14 Oct Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D (4pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Sat 14 Oct Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sun 15 Oct Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C (4pm, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Sun 15 Oct Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Semi-finals

Fri 20 Oct Winner Quarter-final 1 v Winner Quarter-final 2 (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Sat 21 Oct Winner Quarter-final 3 v Winner Quarter-final 4 (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Third-place match

Fri 27 Oct Third-place Play-off (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)

Final

Sat 28 Oct World Cup Final (8pm, Stade de France, Paris)