Australia Rugby World Cup 2019 fixtures, dates and kick-off times

The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday, September 20 as nations from all across the globe compete for the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan.

The opening stage of the competition sees 20 teams attempt to battle their way out of four Pools - A, B, C and D. Each Pool contains five teams and only two can advance into the knockout rounds.

Australia are in Pool D alongside Wales, Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay and should comfortably progress, alongside the Welsh, to the next round. However, both Georgia and Fiji are potential banana skins.

Pool D is aligned with Pool C in the quarter-finals, so the winner of Pool D plays the runner-up in Pool C and the runner-up in Pool D plays the winner of Pool C. It means that Australia and Wales will have to take on either England, France or Argentina for a place in the semis.

MATCH ONE

Australia vs Fiji... Sapporo Dome... Saturday, September 21... 5.45am BST... (ITV)

MATCH TWO

Australia vs Wales... Tokyo Stadium... Sunday, September 29... 8.45am BST... (ITV)

MATCH THREE

Australia vs Uruguay... Oita Stadium... Saturday, October 5... 6.15am BST... (ITV)

MATCH FOUR

Australia vs Georgia... Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa... Friday, October 11... 11.15am BST... (ITV 4)

The Quarter-Finals are on October 19-20.

The Semi-Finals are on October 26-27.

The Bronze Final is on November 1.

The Final is on November 2.