The 2023 Rugby World Cup promises to be an unforgettable tournament and will be a great spectacle for both committed fans and casual viewers.
From the 8th of September until the 28th of October, the top 20 Rugby nations in the world will compete in France for the Webb Ellis Trophy, the most prestigious achievement in Rugby Union.
If you are new to Rugby this will be the ultimate way to introduce yourself to the sport.
As a spectacle, Rugby is dynamic, physical and extremely dramatic; In the context of the Rugby World Cup the intensity is increased ten-fold. We would advise any person, sporting fan or not, to check out the games.
This guide is intended for those who are strangers to Rugby but if you are a established don’t go anywhere! There still could be something to learn to improve your experience over the next two months.
What Happens in a Rugby World Cup?
The format of the tournament is simple to understand. The Rugby World Cup is a knock out tournament; 20 teams are divided into 4 pools where each play 4 games against the other members of their group. Wins, losses and draws accrue a certain amount of points as some other criteria around number of tries scored and the size of the points difference between teams.
After this, the top 2 highest scoring teams in each pool advance to the quarter-finals where they play one of the other qualifying teams from a different pool.
Similarly, the winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals and then the winners of that will play in the final for the Webb-Ellis Cup (the losing semi-finalists play for third place before the final).
Who is Playing in 2023?
20 teams are competing in 2023 in for pools (groups):
Who are the favourites to win the Rugby World Cup?
This World Cup stands out due to intense competition among top teams.
South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, and France are favorites. Scotland, Italy, and Fiji are also formidable. World #1 Ireland has a strong record, but they face a tough pool with South Africa and Scotland.
Hosts France hold the home advantage but have faced injuries. South Africa strengthened their favouritism with a record win over New Zealand.
New Zealand started well but faced a heavy loss to South Africa. Their first game against France will be a significant challenge for the recovering team.
The World Cup’s complexity stems from pool draws, favoring some and disadvantaging others. Top-ranked teams are concentrated in pools A and B, leading to challenging quarter-finals matchups.
Only two of France, South Africa, New Zealand, and Ireland can make it to the semi-finals. Conversely, in the other pools, underperforming teams like England, Australia, Wales, and Argentina could advance far without facing top teams until the semi-finals.
This unpredictability makes it challenging to predict the winner.
Additionally, “tier 2” nations like Fiji, Portugal, and Georgia pose threats to top teams, often delivering upset victories.
Fiji, in particular, has gained attention with notable wins over France and England. The World Cup promises excitement and unforgettable moments, and fans shouldn’t miss these matches.
In a World Cup, there’s always something at stake, so tuning in ensures you can say you witnessed this incredible tournament in the future.
How to Watch the Rugby World Cup
Sporting events of this size are usually free-to-air. The RWC is no different; UK viewers can find matches live on ITV and S4C for Welsh viewers.
The time difference is minimal as France is only an hour ahead. Many pubs, bars, and sports bars show games. Rugby clubs often have kid-friendly viewing options.
Due to numerous fixtures, watching the tournament can be a social occasion, especially in the pool stages where each team plays four matches. Look for “Fan Zones” in the host country, like France’s ten “Rugby Villages” with big screens, food, drink, and fan activities.
While not everyone can attend the event, the Asahi Super Dry Fanzone in London offers a stadium-like experience for those in the UK. If you’re new to rugby, our simple guide to the rules can help you follow the games with ease.
How to get Tickets to the Rugby World Cup
Ticket sales are ongoing both from https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/ and third party resellers.
This tournament is the first in Rugby World Cup history where you can purchase tickets for individual matches.
Many have been bought already but there will be thousands to be sold over the tournament in different stages and the prices can be very reasonable especially in the pool games.
The official ticketing platform also includes a reselling service so you can buy second hand tickets in a secure way.
