Rugby World Cup 2023: next matches, full schedule and group standings
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is already shaping up to be the most enthralling, intriguing, entertaining tournament we have ever had – and there’s plenty more to come.
France and South Africa look the teams to beat after they defeated New Zealand and Scotland respectively with performances that made you sit up and take notice.
Wales also got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start, but only by the skin of their teeth, while 14-man England dug deep to outplay and out-think an error-strewn Argentina, thanks largely to the kicking prowess of George Ford. Ireland, meanwhile, enjoyed a walk in the park against Romania.
When are the next games?
After an initial flurry of games over the weekend, we have three days without any action. The next game, however, is France vs Uruguay at 8pm on Thursday, September 14, with New Zealand vs Namibia at the same time on Friday. The weekend then has six games.
How do I watch the Rugby World Cup on TV?
ITV have the exclusive broadcast rights in the UK. The channel for each match is listed below (the vast majority are on ITV1). You can read our guide to the 12 best pundits and commentators working at the tournament.
The radio commentary of every match will be available only on the BBC, across Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds service. The BBC says there will be a “bespoke output” in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In the US, the tournament is being shown on NBC Sports. In South Africa the TV coverage is on SuperSport.
Rugby World Cup 2023 full fixtures and schedule
All matches on ITV1 unless specified
Pool matches
Friday, Sept 8 - France 27 New Zealand 13
Saturday, Sept 9 - Italy 52 Namibia 8
Saturday, Sept 9 - Ireland 82 Romania 8
Saturday, Sept 9 - Australia 35 Georgia 15
Saturday, Sept 9 - England 27 Argentina 10
Sunday, Sept 10 - Japan 42 Chile 12
Sunday, Sept 10 - South Africa 18 Scotland 3
Sunday, Sept 10 - Wales 32 Fiji 26
Thursday, Sept 14 - France v Uruguay, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm
Friday, Sept 15 - New Zealand v Namibia, Stadium de Toulouse, 8pm
Saturday, Sept 16 - Samoa v Chile, Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm - ITV 4
Saturday, Sept 16 - Wales v Portugal, Stade de Nice 4.45pm
Saturday, Sept 16 - Ireland v Tonga, Stade de la Beaujoire, 8pm
Sunday, Sept 17 - South Africa v Romania, Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm
Sunday, Sept 17 - Australia v Fiji, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm
Sunday, Sept 17 - England v Japan, Stade de Nice, 8pm
Wednesday, Sept 20 - Italy v Uruguay, Stade de Nice, 4.45pm - ITV 4
Thursday, Sept 21 - France v Namibia, Stade de Marseille, 8pm - ITV 4
Friday, Sept 22 - Argentina v Samoa, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm
Saturday, Sept 23 - Georgia v Portugal, Stadium de Toulouse, 1pm
Saturday, Sept 23 - England v Chile, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm
Saturday, Sept 23 - South Africa v Ireland, Stade de France, 8pm
Sunday, Sept 24 - Scotland v Tonga, Stade de Nice, 4.45pm
Sunday, Sept 24 - Wales v Australia, OL Stadium, 8pm
Wednesday, Sept 27 - Uruguay v Namibia, OL Stadium, 4.45pm - ITV 4
Thursday, Sept 28 - Japan v Samoa, Stade de Toulouse, 8pm - ITV 4
Friday, Sept 29 - New Zealand v Italy, OL Stadium, 8pm
Saturday, Sept 30 - Argentina v Chile, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm
Saturday, Sept 30 - Fiji v Georgia, Stade de Bordeaux, 4.45pm
Saturday, Sept 30 - Scotland v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm
Sunday, Oct 1 - Australia v Portugal, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4.45pm - ITV 4
Sunday, Oct 1 - South Africa v Tonga, Stade de Marseille, 8pm
Thursday, Oct 5 - New Zealand v Uruguay, OL Stadium, 8pm - ITV 4
Friday, Oct 6 - France v Italy, OL Stadium, 8pm
Saturday, Oct 7 - Wales v Georgia, Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm
Saturday, Oct 7 - England v Samoa, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm
Saturday, Oct 7 - Ireland v Scotland, Stade de France, 8pm
Sunday, Oct 8 - Japan v Argentina, Stade de la Beaujoire, 12pm
Sunday, Oct 8 - Tonga v Romania, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4.45pm - ITV 3
Sunday, Oct 8 - Fiji v Portugal, Stade de Toulouse, 8pm - ITV 4
Quarter-finals
Saturday, Oct 14 - Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D, Stade de Marseille, 4pm
Saturday, Oct 14 - Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A, Stade de France, 8pm
Sunday, Oct 15 - Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C, Stade de Marseille, 4pm
Sunday, Oct 15 - Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B, Stade de France, 8pm
Semi-finals
Friday, Oct 20 - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
Saturday, Oct 21 - Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4, Stade de France, 8pm
Bronze medal match
Friday, Oct 27 - Runner-up SF 1 v Runner-up SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
Final
Saturday, Oct 28 - Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2, Stade de France, 8pm
Who is in what pool?
Where is the Rugby World Cup taking place?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is being played in France across nine stadiums in nine cities. The final will be played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Paris).
Stade de France (capacity 80,698) – Saint-Denis, Paris
Stade de Marseille (67,394) – Marseille
OL Stadium (59,186) – Lyon
Stade Pierre-Mauroy (50,186) – Lille
Stade de Bordeaux (42,115) – Bordeaux
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (41,965) – Saint-Étienne
Stade de Nice (35,624) – Nice
Stade de la Beaujoire (35,322) – Nantes
Stade de Toulouse (33,150) – Toulouse
Who is playing?
A total of 20 teams qualified for the Rugby World Cup. These teams were split into four pools of five, with each pool getting one team from five ‘bands’.
Band one featured the four highest-ranked teams from when the draw for the tournament was made back in 2019 (South Africa, New Zealand, England, Wales). Band two comprised the next four highest-ranked teams (Ireland, Australia, France, Japan) and band three the four after that (Scotland, Argentina, Fiji, Italy).
Each side in the first three bands qualified automatically for the tournament owing to their world ranking, while the further two bands comprised the sides who had made it into the tournament via qualifying (Samoa, Georgia, Uruguay, Tonga, Namibia, Romania, Chile, Portugal).
South Africa are the defending champions. They beat England in the final in 2019.
England’s World Cup squad
England’s squad selection for the Rugby World Cup was severely disrupted by injuries and suspensions. Steve Borthwick named his 33-man squad on August 7. But after that date:
Owen Farrell received a four-match ban – that rules him out of the opening two World Cup games – for a high-tackle during a warm-up match against Wales;
Jack van Poortvliet was ruled out of the squad through injury, and replaced by Alex Mitchell;
Billy Vunipola was suspended for three games, for a similar high tackle against Ireland, but can attend “tackle school” to reduce his ban, which means that he misses only England’s opening match of the tournament;
Anthony Watson was sidelined by injury and replaced by Jonny May.
Forwards (19)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)***
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)*
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)*
Jamie George (Saracens)**
Maro Itoje (Saracens)*
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)***
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)*
Joe Marler (Harlequins)**
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
David Ribbans (Toulon)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)*
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens) **
Jack Walker (Harlequins)
Jack Willis (Toulouse)
Backs (14)
Henry Arundell (Racing 92)
Danny Care (Harlequins)*
Elliot Daly (Saracens)*
Owen Farrell (Saracens)**
George Ford (Sale Sharks)**
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears)
Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)**
Jonny May (Gloucester)**
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)***
*denotes number of Rugby World Cup tournaments played
Recommended
Will Greenwood's guide to the England squad
Latest odds
France: 3/1
New Zealand: 4/1
South Africa: 11/4
Ireland: 5/1
England: 10/1
Australia: 12/1
Argentina: 33/1
Wales: 33/1
Scotland: 66/1
Having a punt? First take a look at these Rugby World Cup free bets and betting offers.
