Celebrations are taking place throughout France to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of the Rugby World Cup 2023. With a little under three months to go until the 20 nations arrive in France, final preparations are underway for rugby union’s 200th birthday party.
There will be 48 matches taking place across ten host destinations: Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse. Hosts France will face New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at the 80,698-capacity Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Friday 8 September. The Rugby World Cup final will be played on Saturday 28 October 2023, also at the Stade de France.
On Tuesday 30 May, the Webb Ellis Cup arrived in Paris on an Emirates A380 with bespoke Rugby World Cup 2023 livery and was passed from world champions South Africa to hosts France. Meanwhile, the tournament medals will also be unveiled, cast entirely from recycled mobile phones donated by fans and community rugby clubs.
Rugby fever begins
Tournament organisers have revealed new public survey results that point to the most popular and impactful Rugby World Cup ever as rugby fever takes hold. The BVA survey with 1,500 French national representatives between 20-27 March 2023 showed:
- 90% of French people support the nation’s hosting of Rugby World Cup with 76% set to join the celebrations either in stadia, in host city fan villages or via media and broadcast
- More than 600,000 international visitors are expected to join the celebrations in France, a record for a Rugby World Cup
- Tickets sold in record time with all available tickets sold a year out and France 2023 is on set to break the RWC 2015 attendance record
- 72% of ticket holders will attend with family, and 45% with friends
Rugby Villages
Rugby World Cup 2023’s host cities have started unveiling exciting Rugby Villages, celebration areas in the heart of each city, where fans from France and around the world can experience Rugby World Cup 2023 together.
Hosting up to 40,000 people, Rugby Villages will be open to all with free admission, offering a unique programme of activities, including live coverage of Rugby World Cup 2023 matches, live music, food and beverage, rugby activities, cultural events and children’s zones. Hosts will announce their complete schedules in the coming weeks.
Positive impact
Rugby World Cup 2023 aims to be a positive-impact competition, setting new standards in social responsibility, inclusion and sustainable development for major international rugby events. Beyond pledges, France 2023 has delivered tangible projects, including the apprentices programme Campus 2023, its official charity Rugby au Coeur and the XV of Gastronomy who will design menus based on seasonal, local products.
Bill Beaumont, World Rugby chairman, said: “With 100 days to go, we are confident that Rugby World Cup 2023 is excellently placed to be the greatest celebration of rugby and togetherness, a fitting way to mark 200 years of rugby. Across the ten host cities and around the world, excitement is at fever pitch. From ticket sales to international visitors, records are tumbling and there is a genuine air of expectation as to which nation will ultimately lift the biggest prize in men’s rugby, the Webb Ellis Cup.”
France 2023 chairman Jacques Rivoal added: “In 100 days, it will finally be time! Starting from the opening match between France and New Zealand, this Rugby World Cup 2023 promises incredible excitement, shared by French and international fans across our country and its regions. Driven by a strong social mission, this competition is set to be a nationwide celebration.”
Images: World Rugby