Seven weeks of rigidity and drama awaits (Picture: Julian Finney-World Rugby/World Rugby by way of Getty Images)Excitement is constructing forward of the beginning of the Rugby World Cup 2023, which kicks-off in France this Friday.
The gifted hosts, who entertain New Zealand on the Stade de France in Paris on Friday night, begin the event as favourites however will face sturdy competitors from Andy Farrell’s world primary aspect Ireland, who claimed the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this 12 months.
Defending champions South Africa, who beat England within the ultimate in Yokohama 4 years in the past, are eyeing back-to-back titles and are in assured temper having recorded their biggest-ever victory over the All Black in a World Cup warm-up recreation at Twickenham final month.
As for England, Steve Borthwick’s males are in a state of disarray after a disastrous 2023 calendar 12 months which noticed them end fourth within the Six Nations again within the spring.
Their event preparations have been additional plunged into chaos with Owen Farrell set to overlook the opening two video games of the World Cup, with Billy Vunipola additionally set to overlook the primary one, after the pair had been handed bans for prime tackles dedicated within the official warm-up video games.
Here is every little thing you’ll want to know in regards to the Rugby World Cup 2023.
Who are in England’s group?
The groups participating have been break up into 4 swimming pools of 5 groups, with the highest two from every group progressing to the quarter-finals.
England have been drawn in Pool D alongside Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile.
Rugby World Cup 2023 swimming pools
Pool A
New Zealand
France
Italy
Uruguay
Namibia
Pool B
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Tonga
Romania
Pool C
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Georgia
Portugal
Pool D
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Chile
Rugby World Cup fixtures and schedule
Friday, September 8
France vs New Zealand (8.15pm, Paris)
Saturday, September 9
Italy vs Namibia (12pm, Saint-Etienne)
Ireland vs Romania (2.30pm, Bordeaux)
Australia vs Georgia (5pm, Paris)
England vs Argentina (8pm, Marseille)
Sunday, September 10
Japan vs Chile (12pm, Toulouse)
South Africa vs Scotland (4.45pm, Marseille)
Wales vs Fiji (8pm, Bordeaux)
Thursday, September 14
France vs Uruguay (8pm, Lille)
Ireland have arrived in France as real contenders (Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile by way of Getty Images)Friday, September 15
New Zealand vs Namibia (8pm, Toulouse)
Saturday, September 16
Samoa vs Chile (2pm, Bordeaux)
Wales vs Portugal (4.45pm, Nice)
Ireland vs Tonga (8pm, Nantes)
Sunday, September 17
South Africa vs Romania (2pm, Bordeaux)
Australia vs Fiji (4.45pm, Saint-Etienne)
England vs Japan (8pm, Nice)
Wednesday, September 20
Italy vs Uruguay (4.45pm, Nice)
Thursday, September 21
France vs Namibia (8pm, Marseille)
Friday, September 22
Argentina vs Samoa (4.45pm, Saint-Etienne)
Saturday, September 23
Georgia vs Portugal (1pm, Toulouse)
England vs Chile (4.45pm, Lille)
South Africa vs Ireland (8pm, Paris)
The All Blacks have misplaced a few of their aura however will nonetheless be a troublesome nut to crack (Picture: Alex Davidson/Getty Images)Sunday, September 24
Scotland vs Tonga (4.45pm, Nice)
Wales vs Australia (8pm, Lyon)
Wednesday, September 27
Uruguay vs Namibia (4.45pm, Lyon)
Thursday, September 28
Japan vs Samoa (8pm, Toulouse)
Friday, September 29
New Zealand vs Italy (8pm, Lyon)
Saturday, September 30
Argentina vs Chile (2pm, Nantes)
Fiji vs Georgia (4.45pm, Bordeaux)
Scotland vs Romania (8pm, Lille)
Sunday, October 1
Australia vs Portugal (4.45pm, Saint-Etienne)
South Africa vs Tonga (8pm, Marseille)
Thursday, October 5
New Zealand vs Uruguay (8pm, Lyon)
Friday, October 6
France vs Italy (8pm, Lyon)
All eyes are on hosts France (Picture: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP by way of Getty Images)Saturday, October 7
Wales vs Georgia (2pm, Nantes)
England vs Samoa (14.45pm, Lille)
Ireland vs Scotland (8pm, Paris)
Sunday, October 8
Japan vs Argentina (12pm, Nantes)
Tonga vs Romania (4.45pm, Lille)
Fiji vs Portugal (8pm, Toulouse)
Saturday, October 14
QUARTER FINAL – Pool C Winner vs Pool D Runner-Up (4pm, Marseille)
QUARTER FINAL – Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)
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Sunday, October 15
QUARTER FINAL – Pool D Winner vs Pool C Runner-Up (4pm, Marseille)
QUARTER FINAL – Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)
Friday, October 20
SEMI FINAL – Quarter Final 1 Winner vs Quarter Final 2 Winner (8pm, Paris)
Saturday, October 21
SEMI FINAL – Quarter Final 3 Winner vs Quarter Final 4 Winner (8pm, Paris)
Friday, October 27
third Place Play-off – Semi Final 1 Runner-Up vs Semi Final 2 Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)
Saturday, October 28
FINAL – Semi-Final 1 Winner vs Semi-Final 2 Winner (8pm, Paris)
Which stadiums will likely be used on the Rugby World Cup?
Rugby World Cup 2023 venues
Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne
Stade de Nice, Nice
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
OL Stadium, Lyon
Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Stade de France, Paris
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First seem at Fixtures and schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2023 forward of Friday’s massive kick-off
