The 2023 Rugby World Cup, known as the Coupe du monde de rugby 2023 in French, marks the tenth edition of the men’s Rugby World Cup, a prestigious international tournament that occurs every four years to determine the world champion among rugby union national teams. This thrilling event is currently underway in France, spanning from September 8 to October 28, 2023, and uniquely, it’s the first time that the entire tournament is being hosted in France. The iconic Stade de France, situated north of Paris, serves as the venue for both the opening match and the grand final. The tournament holds particular significance as it coincides with the bicentenary celebration of the sport’s “invention” by William Webb Ellis.[2]
Initially slated to follow the traditional six-week format, the tournament’s schedule was adjusted in February 2021 by World Rugby. The additional week was introduced to prioritise player well-being, ensuring teams benefit from a minimum of five days of rest between matches. France, in its third stint as host, had previously organised the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and co-hosted the event alongside England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales in 1991. Importantly, this edition of the tournament serves as a thrilling prelude to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and is set to unfold less than a year before the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics.
The reigning champions from the 2019 Rugby World Cup are the formidable South African team, who clinched victory by defeating England in the dramatic final.
Adding to the excitement of this year’s tournament, Chile has made its debut appearance, while Portugal returns for its second showing after a hiatus of 16 years since their first appearance in 2007, which also took place in France.
All the players taking part will have started their journeys on local pitches – many of which will be school pitches. Actihire can help with finding local pitches for you team. Just search for your area or contact our customer service team. You can also contact us if you have a pitch available to hire. Extra income is always a help.