RUGBY WORLD CUPInfo and FAQs

The next Rugby World Cup is scheduled to take place in France in 2023. The tournament is set to take place 200 years after the sport was invented by William Webb Ellis.

The Rugby World Cup will take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023. Nine grounds will host matches, but the opening match and final will take place at the Stade de France.

Overall, nine different venues across France will host matches at the Rugby World Cup, these are:

- Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Stade de Marseille, Marseille
- Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
- Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
- OL Stadium, Lyon
- Stade de Nice, Nice
- Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

The Stade de France, which is the country's national stadium, will host the opening fixture between France and New Zealand. It will also host both semi-final matches, the bronze final and the final.

The Rugby World Cup trophy is known as the William Webb Ellis Cup. It's named after the sport's inventor.

The Rugby World Cup takes place every four years. The last Rugby World Cup took place in Japan in 2019. In the final, South Africa overpowered England 32-12.

The inaugural Rugby World Cup took place in 1987, back when rugby was still an amateur sport. The tournament was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The final took place at Eden Park, where hosts New Zealand outclassed France 29-9.