South Africa, known as the Springboks, will be looking to defend the title they won four years ago in Japan. Led by inspirational leader Siya Kolisi, the Springboks are ranked third in the world and are among the favourites to lift the trophy.
The Springboks won the tournament in a historic home final against New Zealand in 1995 before reclaiming the title in 2007 and 2019.
Arch-rivals and perennial challengers New Zealand are ranked second in the world and like South Africa will be looking for a record fourth title. Known as the All Blacks, they won the trophy in 1987 before claiming back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2015. But New Zealand were humbled by South Africa in an international match in London on the eve of this tournament, denting fan hopes.
Hosts France and world number one Ireland go into the tournament as European favourites, having won the last two Six Nations tournaments in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
France’s Les Bleus have finished runners-up in three Rugby World Cup finals in 1987, 1999, and 2011. They will be looking to cash in on the home-ground advantage and finally claim the title that has eluded them over nine editions. Look out for their star man Antoine Dupont, regarded by many as the worlds best player currently, and who has spoken of his desire to then compete at Paris 2024 in sevens.
Ireland have been one of the form teams over the last few years but are yet to advance past the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
Past winners England have been struggling for form, but often perform at their best during World Cups. They reached the final of the 2019 edition in Japan, and were also finallists the last time the event was held in France in 2007.
Australia are another team who can’t be ruled out despite a disappointing run of results this season, while Argentina are always a threat at the Rugby World Cup, finishing third in 2007 and fourth in 2015.
Here is everything you need to know for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, including fixtures, kick-off times, how to watch every game for free, venues and latest odds.
Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures, results, kick-off times and how to watch
All times BST, unless stated
Pool A
Friday, September 8
France vs New Zealand (Stade de France, 8:15pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 9
Italy vs Namibia (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 12pm, ITV1)
Thursday, September 14
France vs Uruguay (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm, ITV4)
Friday, September 15
New Zealand vs Namibia (Stadium de Toulouse, 8pm, ITV4)
Wednesday, September 20
Italy vs Uruguay (Stade de Nice, 4:45pm, ITV4)
Thursday, September 21
France vs Namibia (Stade Velodrome, 8pm, ITV4)
Wednesday, September 27
Uruguay vs Namibia (OL Stadium, 4:45pm, ITV4)
Friday, September 29
New Zealand vs Italy (OL Stadium, 8pm, ITV1)
Thursday, October 5
New Zealand vs Uruguay (OL Stadium, 8pm, ITV1)
Friday, October 6
France vs Italy (OL Stadium, 8pm, ITV1)
Pool B
Saturday, September 9
Ireland vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, 2:30pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 10
South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Velodrome, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 16
Ireland vs Tonga (Stade de la Beaujoire, 8pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 17
South Africa vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 23
South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 24
Scotland vs Tonga (Stade de Nice, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 30
Scotland vs Romania (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 8pm, ITV)
Sunday, October 1
South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Velodrome, 8pm, ITV1)
Saturday, October 7
Ireland vs Scotland (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Sunday, October 8
Tonga vs Romania (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4:45pm, ITV3)
Pool C
Saturday, September 9
Australia vs Georgia (Stade de France, 5pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 10
Wales vs Fiji (Stade de Bordeaux, 8pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 16
Wales vs Portugal (Stade de Nice, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 17
Australia vs Fiji (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 23
Georgia vs Portugal (Stadium de Toulouse, 1pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 24
Wales vs Australia (OL Stadium, 8pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 30
Fiji vs Georgia (Stade de Bordeaux, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Sunday, October 1
Australia vs Portugal (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Saturday, October 7
Wales vs Georgia (Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm, ITV1)
Sunday, October 8
Fiji vs Portugal (Stadium de Toulouse, 8pm, ITV4)
Pool D
Saturday, September 9
England vs Argentina (Stade Velodrome, 8pm, ITV1)
Sunday, September 10
Japan vs Chile (Stadium de Toulouse, 12pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 16
Samoa vs Chile (Stade de Bordeaux, 2pm, ITV4)
Sunday, September 17
England vs Japan (Stade de Nice, 8pm, ITV1)
Friday, September 22
Argentina vs Samoa (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Saturday, September 23
England vs Chile (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Thursday, September 28
Japan vs Samoa (Stadium de Toulouse, 8pm, ITV4)
Saturday, September 30
Argentina vs Chile (Stade de la Beaujoire, 2pm, ITV1)
Saturday, October 7
England vs Samoa (Stade Pierre-Mauroy, 4:45pm, ITV1)
Sunday, October 8
Japan vs Argentina (Stade de la Beaujoire, 12pm, ITV1)
Quarter-finals
Saturday, October 14
Winner of Pool C vs Runner-up of Pool D (Stade Velodrome, 4pm, ITV1)
Winner of Pool B vs Runner-up of Pool A (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Sunday, October 15
Winner of Pool D vs Runner-up of Pool C (Stade Velodrome, 4pm, ITV1)
Winner of Pool A vs Runner-up of Pool B (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Semi-finals
Friday, October 20
Winner of quarter-final 1 vs Winner of quarter-final 2 (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Saturday, October 21
Winner of quarter-final 3 vs Winner of quarter-final 4 (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Bronze final
Friday, October 27
Loser of semi-final 1 vs Loser of semi-final 2 (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Final
Saturday, October 28
Winner of semi-final 1 vs Winner of semi-final 2 (Stade de France, 8pm, ITV1)
Rugby World Cup 2023 venues
Stade de France, Paris (capacity 80,023)
Stade Velodrome, Marseille (capacity 67,847)
OL Stadium, Lyon (capacity 58,883)
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (capacity 50,096)
Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (capacity 42,115)
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne (capacity 41,965)
Stade de Nice, Nice (capacity 35,983)
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (capacity 35,520)
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (capacity 33,150)
Rugby World Cup 2023 odds
Winner
France – 11/4
New Zealand – 3/1
South Africa – 7/2
Ireland – 9/2
Australia – 10/1
England – 12/1
Argentina – 20/1
Wales – 30/1
Scotland – 35/1
Fiji – 80/1
Japan – 200/1
Tonga – 400/1
Samoa – 425/1
Italy – 500/1
Georgia – 500/1
Namibia – 500/1
Romania – 500/1
Uruguay – 500/1
Chile – 500/1
Portugal – 500/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
