From September 8 to October 28, 2023, France will host the Rugby World Cup 2023. First held back in 1987, this year marks the league's tenth edition and France's third time hosting the competition. As such, it's bound to be one of the most significant global events of the year in the country, preceding the other highly-anticipated sports event, the
Paris 2024 Olympics. There's also much to expect at this year's Rugby World Cup, starting with an exciting rugby village, country debuts, and more. Fans of the sport will want to stay tuned for all the action!
The Countdown is Already On
Before getting into what to expect in the Rugby World Cup 2023, it's worth noting that the countdown has already begun. A good few months before the start of the championship league, the Webb Ellis Cup arrived in
Paris and was given to the host city by the last edition's champions, South Africa. The tournament medals have also been unveiled, which are recycled from old phones collected via a grassroots rugby initiative. And tickets have already sold out too. Despite the anticipation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the city seems just as excited for the Rugby World Cup 2023 too.
A Trip Around France
Perhaps what's most highly anticipated about the Rugby World Cup 2023 is that it will travel all throughout France. The opening ceremony will take place in Stade de France in Saint-Denis in the Paris Suburbs. After that, succeeding games will take place in other big French cities like Marseilles, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Toulouse, and Saint-Étienne. Though most of the attention will undoubtedly be on the games, this is also a good chance for international fans to get to know more about the
French countryside. As well as the true beauty of France beyond Paris.
Returning & Debuting Countries
For the league itself, the Rugby World Cup 2023 marks the return and debut of certain countries. Most notably, Chile is set to make its first appearance at the championship games this year. At the same time, Portugal will return to the Rugby World Cup after a 16-year absence. Their last appearance was back in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which was also their debut. All in all, the games will feature a total of 20 countries, four of which have won the championship before. And it's also noteworthy that all continents will be represented.
Set To Break Records
Even as early as now, the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France is set to break its fair share of records. Various news sources have reported that this year's edition was the fastest-selling so far. Almost 2.5 million tickets have been sold within a few weeks after they went on sale. Around 600,000 international fans are also estimated to travel to France to watch the games live, making it the most-attended edition so far as well. And while it's not a record-breaking feat, it's also worth noting that French public approval ratings for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2023 are at 90%.
Rugby Villages Throughout Various French Cities
For those in Paris during the two-month-long event, there's also the Rugby Village to look forward to. It's a designated fan zone for fans to get together, watch the games in real-time, and have all sorts of fun. The city plans to set it up along the
Champs-Elysées, covering a massive area that includes Place de la Concorde and Jardin des Tuileries. The Rugby Village's main aim is to provide a big avenue for fans to watch the games live and within a big community. But the place will also feature games and other events that fans can participate in.
Paris in The Limelight
One of the best things to expect in the Rugby World Cup 2023 is that Paris will be in the limelight. As already mentioned, Stade de France in the
Paris Suburbs will host the opening ceremony and a number of the first games. And at the end of the event, the same stadium will host the finals too. So all eyes will be on Paris from the beginning to the end of the championship league. At the same time, the Rugby Village, which will be set up in the
8th arrondissement, will serve as a great avenue for fans to stay tuned on all the action.
If you're a huge sports fan, you'll want to see the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France! It's bound to be one of the biggest sports events of the year, complete with exciting matches, a cool Rugby Village, and a whole lot of excitement!
