Rugby World Cup news LIVE: Latest updates ahead of tournament in France
The Rugby World Cup is now only days away, with all 20 competing nations at their base camps preparing for action.
The tournament begins on Friday night with an exciting fixture between hosts France and New Zealand in Pool A. The rest of the sides get their campaigns underway on an action-packed weekend, with England taking on Argentina on Saturday in their Pool D opener, and the Pool B clash between South Africa and Scotland a day later likely to prove crucial.
Steve Borthwick appears to have suffered another injury scare ahead of the start of the tournament, with Courtney Lawes, likely to skipper the side in Marseille in the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell, missing their welcome ceremony in Le Touquet. England insist that the flanker was just “sore” after training on the northern French coast, but Borthwick’s side can ill afford to lose another key figure after a disastrous build-up to the tournament. Follow all the latest news and updates from France below:
Rugby World Cup 2023 latest news
Rugby World Cup 2023 starts Friday when hosts France take on New Zealand
England begin tournament on Saturday against Argentina
Rugby World Cup 2023 talking points
Rugby World Cup 2023 squad guide: Every player, fixtures and more
Rugby World Cup 2023: Felipe Contepomi expecting ‘very difficult’ encounter with England
Monday 4 September 2023 16:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Argentina assistant coach Felipe Contepomi expects England to be ready for their World Cup opener against the Pumas.
The 2019 runners-up have endured a difficult build up to the tournament, with injury and discipline issues adding to a strign of uneven warm-up performance on the pitch.
Contepomi, who captained Argentina at the 2011 tournament, nonethless expects England to be at their best come Saturday as the two sides prepare to kick off their campaigns in Marseille.
“England is the ‘big team’ in the group. They say they are ready for the Rugby World Cup and we expect a very tough match,” Contepomi said.
“You can analyse each rival thoroughly, but you also have to take into consideration what you can do. So you have to concentrate on everything you’ve been working on. It’s about us and doing our game in the best way possible.
“They are the strongest team in our group, if someone wants to call us favourites, it’s up to them. I don’t read the press much and I don’t use social media, so I don’t know what’s being said. But what I can tell you is that we are focused on what we have to do and that we know the power that England have.
“They’ve said they are prepared for the Rugby World Cup, so we expect a very complicated and very difficult match, very physical and strategic, the first match of the Rugby World Cup. But we are very focused on what we know how to do and want to do.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: Jordie Barrett emerges as injury doubt for opener
Monday 4 September 2023 15:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett has emerged as an injury doubt for the Rugby World Cup opener against France on Friday night.
Barrett, the All Blacks’ starting inside centre for most of the last year, missed training on Monday with what defence coach Scott McLeod described as a “niggle”.
Ian Foster’s side are already set to be without back five forwards Sam Whitelock and Shannon Frizell for the meeting with the hosts in Paris, while prop Tyrel Lomax could also be absent after suffering a deep gash to his leg in the defeat to South Africa at Twickenham.
“It’s a wait and see,” McLeod said of the youngest Barrett brother’s chances of featuring at the Stade de France. “It’s still early in the week for us. So, we will just wait and see how he responds today and tomorrow to a little bit more treatment.
“Our whole squad prepares to play, right up until warm-up and the game day.
“He (Barrett) has been really important to our play. However, we trust our full squad and we are going to have to in this World Cup.
“He’s a little bit frustrated with it, as would be any athlete. Same as Tyrel Lomax (injured prop). They just have to go through what they have got to do and trust our medical staff, who are world class, and see how the treatment goes.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: John Jeffrey believes Scotland currently have strongest team of all time
Monday 4 September 2023 15:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
World Rugby vice-chairman John Jeffrey believes Scotland have arrived at the Rugby World Cup with their strongest team of all time and are now operating at a level that will strike fear into the top nations on the planet.
The 64-year-old, who won 40 caps in dark blue and was a star of the 1990 Grand Slam-winning team, was at the Scots’ lavish welcome ceremony just off the waterfront in Nice where he addressed the squad and told them he views them as the best group of players the nation has ever assembled.
“I think this is the best Scotland team ever,” he told the PA news agency afterwards. “If you look at where we’re ranked, fifth in the world, that’s the highest we’ve ever been ranked.
John Jeffrey believes Scotland currently have strongest team of all time
Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher feeling ‘unbelievably healthy’ ahead of World Cup
Monday 4 September 2023 15:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Hooker Ronan Kelleher insisted his “body feels unbelievably healthy” as he declared himself fit for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener.
The 25-year-old has endured a series of injury setbacks during the past 18 months and missed each of his country’s warm-up matches amid a hamstring issue.
Ireland flew to France on Thursday with potential problems in the middle of their front row as first-choice number two Dan Sheehan sustained a foot injury in last month’s win over England.
Scrum coach John Fogarty said on Monday that none of Ireland’s 33-man squad have been ruled out of Saturday’s Pool B clash with Romania in Bordeaux, while Kelleher was extremely positive about his own condition.
“I’m fighting fit and ready to go,” he said. “I’ve been training fully and I’m just raring to get going now. I had a few little niggles there over the last couple of weeks.”
Ireland hooker Ronan Kelleher feeling ‘unbelievably healthy’ ahead of World Cup
Owen Farrell says high tackle that led to World Cup suspension ‘a mistake’
Monday 4 September 2023 15:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Owen Farrell admits the tackle that resulted in his suspension for Saturday’s World Cup opener against Argentina was a mistake.
England’s captain is “gutted” to be unavailable for the pivotal Marseille showdown after his dangerous hit on Wales’ Taine Basham last month resulted in a four-match suspension that ends after the Pool D clash with Japan.
Farrell initially had his red card downgraded to a yellow by a disciplinary hearing, only for World Rugby to appeal the decision, which was upheld.
“Obviously you don’t want to go back too far and I don’t want to be sat here talking about this now. I want to be talking about the weekend,” said Farrell, speaking about the incident for the first time.
“I made a mistake and I got banned for it in the end. I’m not going to sit here and moan about it now.
“I’m excited for this World Cup to start. I’m excited to see what this team can do and I look forward to being available again.
“I’m gutted not to be playing and I’m gutted not to be available. Especially a big game like this at the weekend.”
Owen Farrell says high tackle that led to World Cup suspension ‘a mistake’
Rugby World Cup 2023: Jacques Nienaber says Springboks aren’t looking past first game
Monday 4 September 2023 14:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has insisted that his side aren’t looking part their opening game against Scotland as the Springboks prepare to get the defence of their World Cup crown underway.
Nienaber’s side kick off their efforts in Pool B in Marseille on Sunday, with three of the five top-ranked sides in the world all in the same group.
“Listen, the Scotland game is the most important game for us in the World Cup,” Nienaber said ahead of the start of the tournament. “It is the biggest game for us because we are in a tough pool, and it is what it is and that’s why it’s so important.
“History doesn’t have any influence on whatever the result will be of the World Cup. That’s what we believe. We must focus on the reality and the reality is how we start our week on Tuesday and how much effort we put in.
“Winning your first Test match in a World Cup doesn’t necessarily mean that you will end up winning or losing the World Cup. It’s just history.
“It’s nice for the pundits and it builds up the game, but does it have an influence on if you’re going to win the World Cup or not? No. But it obviously will take a little bit of pressure off if you win the first game - and if we lose the first game, there will obviously be more pressure for us to get out of the pool.
“For us, favourite or non-favourite - it doesn’t influence Saturday’s game. We can’t control who’s the favourites.
“The reality is that doesn’t have any bearing on us, [nor will it] have bearing on Scotland or France for that matter. It’s what you as a team believe within the group.
“How prepared are you? How much effort did you put in? How hard did you train? How did you make sure that you have ticked all the boxes in getting yourself prepared for the Test match against Scotland? That is the reality. If you are the favourite or not the favourite or underdog or not the underdog, it’s not going to make Scotland perform better or worse, or us better or worse.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: French sports minister insists country has learned from Champions League final fiasco
Monday 4 September 2023 14:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
France has learned its lessons from the 2022 Champions League final fiasco as the country gears up for the Rugby World Cup kickoff between Les Bleus and New Zealand on Friday, Sports Minister Amelie Oudea Castera said.
The minister said the government would deploy up to 7,000 security personnel across the country as part of measures to ensure safety during the tournament, which ends on Oct. 28.
The World Cup starts with the mouthwatering clash between France and the All Blacks at the Stade de France and the situation around the venue will be heavily monitored well before kick off.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount of work to learn the lessons from what happened at the Stade de France (at the Champions League final in 2022),” Oudea Castera told a press conference on Monday.
“We have revised our security policy, working on crime prevention.”
France, which will host the 2024 Olympics in Paris, came in for heavy criticism over the chaos at last year’s Champions League final.
The start was delayed by 36 minutes after thousands of Liverpool supporters were unable to get into the Stade de France for the match against Real Madrid.
French police were filmed using tear gas on fans, who complained of heavy-handed treatment as they were herded into pens outside the stadium.
Reuters
Rugby World Cup 2023: Eddie Jones hits back at Danny Cipriani
Monday 4 September 2023 13:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Eddie Jones has hit back at Danny Cipriani after the former England fly half accused the coach of behaving like a “horny teenager” and prying into his private life.
Cipriani suggested that Jones, who did not see eye to eye with the playmaker, made insensitive comments about Cipriani’s sex life shortly after a relationship with presenter Kirsty Gallacher ended in 2016.
Jones, though, has denied ever making the remarks, describing them as a “complete fabrication” and suggesting that the 35-year-old is merely trying to boost sales of his soon to be released memoir, Who Am I?.
“‘We didn’t have a close relationship, so I’m hardly going to engage in a conversation like that with him,” Jones told the Mail.
“To be quite frank, it’s a complete fabrication. We didn’t select him. When players don’t get selected, they always have an axe to grind - we know that.
“He’s selling a book, so nothing surprises me when players want to sell books. It’s absurd. It’s almost too absurd to talk about.
“I think it’s very sad for him that he feels he has to make something up to sell his book.
“It’s just f****** nonsense. If anyone is stupid enough to pay attention to it then good luck to them.”
France urged to drop lock convicted of racially motivated assault
Monday 4 September 2023 13:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
France are facing calls to drop Bastien Chalureau just days before their home Rugby World Cup begins after the lock’s conviction for a racially motivated assault.
Chalureau was given a six-month suspended prison sentence in 2020 by a Toulouse court after assaulting two former players.
The 31-year-old, now of Montpellier, is appealing the conviction and denies the incident had any racial element.
Fabien Galthie had initially left him out of his 33-man squad for the tournament, but called up the second row after Paul Willemse’s injury last week.
But the France head coach’s decision to add Chalureau, who won his first international cap last November, to his squad has been criticised ahead of the tournament hosts’ opening game against New Zealand on Friday night.
France urged to drop lock convicted of racially motivated assault
Rugby World Cup 2023: Full England squad train in Le Touquet
Monday 4 September 2023 13:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Positive news for Steve Borthwick this afternoon, with all 33 of his England squad members taking part in training in Le Touquet. Courtney Lawes was absent from the team’s capping ceremony on Saturday having come up sore from England’s first session after landing in France, but the flanker was back involved today with Tom Curry, Elliot Daly and Kyle Sinckler - three of England’s other injury doubts - out there, too.
World Rugby chief confident no confusion around disciplinary issues at World Cup
Monday 4 September 2023 13:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has expressed confidence that there would be no confusion surrounding any disciplinary issues at the Rugby World Cup.
England captain Owen Farrell will miss his country’s opening games of the tournament against Argentina and Japan after receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle against World Cup warm-up opponents Wales.
World Rugby had appealed against the decision of a disciplinary panel to downgrade Farrell’s red card for a high tackle to yellow.
But a furious outcry greeted the verdict that Farrell’s shoulder-led challenge to Taine Basham’s head, which caused the Wales flanker to fail a head injury assessment, was a sin-binning offence only.
“We have introduced the foul play bunker through Super Rugby and then into the summer games,” Gilpin said during the opening World Cup press conference at Roland Garros.
“There are always learnings from introducing things and there have been.
“The key difference for us coming into the tournament is that we get to control the process much more – everything from the way television pictures are shared with the relevant officials through to disciplinary process, obviously all under one set of controls.
“And that gives us the confidence I think that we can make sure it is not confusing for players and fans.”
World Rugby chief confident no confusion around disciplinary issues at World Cup
Rugby World Cup 2023: France ‘can’t wait’ to get tournament underway
Monday 4 September 2023 12:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Friday’s opening game between France and New Zealand really should be a cracker. The Stade de France was bouncing last weekend for the final warm-up fixture against Australia and will be full to the rafters for the curtain-raiser as two tournament favourites get the World Cup underway.
“We’ve been preparing for and thinking about this game for a while,” Gael Fickou said over the weekend. “We’re obviously looking forward to it. We’re building up to it. We arrived yesterday for the [welcome] ceremony, and today was the first training session. We’re ready. We know it’s going to be a very big game and we can’t wait.
“I don’t think any side is favourite. There are two great teams that have been performing well for several years. It’s going to be a great match. We’re not playing games over who’s favourite or not. We know our qualities, and we know their enormous qualities, too. Quite simply, it’s going to be a huge game.
“It’s all we’re thinking about. That’s our objective, we’re focused on the match right now, and we’re determined to play a big game. That’s where all our thoughts are - we’re focused.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: Veteran Michael Leitch says Japan are aiming to win the tournament
Monday 4 September 2023 12:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Japan captivated the rugby world four years ago, riding a wave of home support to reach the quarter finals after beating both Ireland and Scotland to top Pool A before a last eight exit to eventual champions South Africa. While Jamie Joseph’s side have perhaps not hit that level since the tournament, veteran flanker Michael Leitch insists that winning the tournament is on the squad’s mind as they prepare to begin their campaign against Chile in Toulouse on Sunday.
“Do the same but better,” Leitch said when asked about Japan’s tournament hopes yesterday. “We’re looking at winning the World Cup.
“Anything can happen, red cards can happen, so our focus is on playing against Chile, England, Samoa, then Argentina and see who we face after that. Our intention is to win the World Cup.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: Tributes paid to Welsh great David Watkins
Monday 4 September 2023 12:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Tributes have poured in for one of rugby’s cross-code greats following the death of David Watkins at the age of 81.
Blaina-born Watkins, known affectionately as “Dai”, played rugby union for Newport and was part of the team which famously beat the touring All Blacks in 1963.
He also won 21 caps for Wales and captained the British Lions before making a shock switch to rugby league with Salford in 1967 having resisted interest from St Helens as an 18-year-old.
Rugby codes unite with tributes for David Watkins
Ex-All Blacks worried about players ‘faking injury’ at Rugby World Cup after Scott Barrett incident
Monday 4 September 2023 12:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina are fearful that players may fake injuries during the Rugby World Cup to try and draw attention to potential incidents of foul play.
New Zealand lock Scott Barrett was shown a second yellow card and sent off after dropping a shoulder into South Africa hooker Malcolm Marx during the All Blacks’ record defeat to the Springboks at Twickenham.
Marx received treatment after Barrett’s tucked arm made initial contact with his shoulder while the front rower was lying prone adjacent to a ruck, with television match official (TMO) Tom Foley alerting referee Matthew Carley to potential foul play during the delay.
The incident remained a yellow after being sent for review by Carley, and Barrett has subsequently been cleared of further sanction by a disciplinary panel, which ruled that the yellow card was sufficient and therefore no ban required.
Reflecting upon the incident, former New Zealand stars Muliaina and Wilson expressed their worry that players may try to game the system during the upcoming tournament in France by feigning injury to try and prompt a review of footage.
Ex-All Blacks fear players could fake injuries at Rugby World Cup
South Africa accused of ‘abusing the bench’ in record All Blacks win
Monday 4 September 2023 11:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Former Scotland rugby coach Matt Williams has accused South Africa rugby of “abusing the bench” after the Springboks used seven forwards as replacements in their win over New Zealand.
The Springboks laid down a marker ahead of the Rugby World Cup with a commanding victory at Twickenham, with the All Blacks suffering a record 35-7 defeat after Scott Barrett’s sending off.
The conventional bench split in rugby has been five forwards to three backs since an extra replacement was added to a matchday squad before the autumn of 2012.
South Africa, however, most often employ a six to two split, favouring an extra forward and trusting their backline versatility. Head coach Jacques Nienaber had initially selected two backs on the bench for his side’s final warm-up game, but after Willie le Roux was forced to withdraw with a niggle, back rower Kwagga Smith, a former sevens star, was called on to the bench.
Williams, who coached Scotland between 2003 and 2005, has urged World Rugby to act on what he perceives as an abuse of the replacement system.
South Africa accused of ‘abusing the bench’ in record All Blacks win
Rugby World Cup 2023: Sam Warburton and Andy Goode answer your questions
Monday 4 September 2023 11:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ireland’s Johnny Sexton admits disciplinary process took a toll on his family
Monday 4 September 2023 11:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Johnny Sexton admits the protracted disciplinary process which threatened to ruin his Rugby World Cup dream took a toll on his family but insists he is “not trying to play the victim”.
Ireland’s captain is unsure why he endured such a lengthy wait to discover his fate for “confrontational and aggressive” behaviour towards referee Jaco Peyper.
Almost two months passed between the fly-half’s heated exchange with the South African match official following Leinster’s 27-26 Heineken Champions Cup final loss to La Rochelle on May 20 and him eventually being hit with a three-match ban.
Sexton consequently sat out World Cup warm-up matches against Italy, England and Samoa but is available to start Ireland’s tournament opener against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
In the prolonged period when his punishment remained unclear, the 38-year-old, who is set to retire following the competition in France, faced intense speculation and public scrutiny amid calls for a substantial suspension.
“I’ve never seen another process last eight weeks or seven weeks, whatever it was,” said Sexton, who confronted Peyper on the Aviva Stadium pitch, having watched his province’s agonising defeat from the stands due to injury.
“It was incredibly frustrating not knowing what was going to happen. I’m not sure why it took so long, but that’s the way it was handled.
“I think when it affects your family you obviously go, ‘well, why are you upset?’ and (they reply) ‘this happened, this happened, this happened, this happened. Five weeks later, this is still happening’.
“Of course (you are aware of public commentary), but I’m not trying to play the victim.
“I made a mistake and I had to put up with what I had to put up with for seven weeks. You have to face up to your actions and that’s what I did.”
PA
What is the TMO Bunker and how will the foul play process work at the Rugby World Cup?
Monday 4 September 2023 11:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will see a revamped foul play process in place, with the introduction of the “TMO bunker” system
at the tournament for the first time.
The introduction follows a number of World Rugby trials during the course of the last year, including the Summer Nations Series and Rugby Championship.
The “bunker” system is designed to improve accuracy of decision making and avoid significant disruptions to the flow of games, and has already been utilised in a couple of high profile moments ahead of the World Cup.
England captain Owen Farrell’s sending off against Wales at Twickenham was awarded after the on-field referee, Nika Amashukeli, placed the incident on review.
So how does the “bunker” system work? Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the TMO Bunker and how will it work at the Rugby World Cup?
England expect to be fully fit for World Cup opener after Courtney Lawes fears
Monday 4 September 2023 11:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
England expect to have a clean bill of health for their vital World Cup opener against Argentina on Saturday after downplaying concerns over Courtney Lawes’ fitness.
Lawes took part in the first training session held since the squad arrived at their tournament base in Le Touquet on Thursday, but the Lions flanker missed Saturday’s capping ceremony because of “soreness”.
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth revealed that England’s likely captain against the Pumas in the absence of the suspended Owen Farrell sat out the function merely as a precautionary measure.
Wigglesworth also issued positive updates on Tom Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly and George Martin, all of whom are carrying knocks ahead of the Marseille opener on September 9.
“Courtney is a bit sore from training on Friday so we decided the best thing for him was to not sit in a chair for an hour or so then have to stand up,” Wigglesworth said.
“He is resting at the hotel. He is bit sore from training – the pitch was heavy because of the rain. Nothing too serious, we are just looking after him.
“We have a few little bumps and bruises like everyone has, but I think we will go into next weekend with a pretty full bill of health.”
England expect to be fully fit for World Cup opener after Courtney Lawes fears
Rugby World Cup 2023: Security beefed up ahead of tournament start
Monday 4 September 2023 10:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
France will deploy up to 7,000 security personnel across the country as part of measures to ensure safety during the Rugby World Cup, sports minister Amelie Oudea Castera said on Monday.
The World Cup starts with a much-awaited clash between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on Friday, but the situation around the venue will be heavily monitored well before the 9 p.m. kick-off.
“It will be an outstanding moment of sport, this Rugby World Cup is set to be exceptional as France organises it alone for the first time,” Oudea Castera told a press conference.
Between 5,500 and 7,000 security personnel would be mobilised, added Oudea Castera, who also promised smooth travel conditions for visiting fans at airports and train stations.
“We have recruited 600 agents in airports to make it easier to go though customs and also reinforced the staff in the train stations,” she added.
Reuters
Rugby World Cup 2023: Which cities are hosting the tournament?
Monday 4 September 2023 10:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This year’s World Cup takes place right around France, with organisers making an effort to ensure an even geographical spread of games. From the heartlands in the south to less fertile rugby territory further north, here’s your guide to every stadium set to host fixtures at the tournament:
Rugby World Cup stadiums: Which cities in France are hosting matches?
Rugby World Cup 2023: Danny Cipriani says Eddie Jones was ‘like a horny teenager'
Monday 4 September 2023 10:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Danny Cipriani has accused former England head coach Eddie Jones of acting like a “horny teenager” in probing into his private life.
The former fly half endured a sometimes difficult relationship with Jones, with Cipriani earning only a handful of caps under the Australian despite impressive club form.
In his soon-to-be published autobiography, Who Am I?, the 35-year-old opens up on his dealings with Jones, recalling one conversation after he had been picked for an early summer training camp in Bagshot shortly after being left out for the coach’s first Six Nations campaign.
Cipriani had recently broken up with television presenter Kirsty Gallacher, and claims that Jones immediately quizzed him on the relationship.
Danny Cipriani: Eddie Jones was ‘like a horny teenager’ asking about sex life
Rugby World Cup 2023: Fabien Galthie defends selection of Bastien Chalureau
Monday 4 September 2023 10:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A bit of morning news from French camp, where Fabien Galthie has had to defend the selection of lock Bastien Chalureau after heavy criticism related to Chalureau’s 2020 conviction for a racially motivated assault. The second row was called up last week after Paul Willemse’s injury, and has denied the incident had anything to do with race, but politicians in France have suggested that Galthie was wrong to pick him.
“We have said the same thing now for four years and we carry this mission with heart and commitment: we have to unite and share with French rugby and all French people,” the French head coach said yesterday.
“For four years, racism has had no place in our team, it has no place in rugby. Integrity is a fundamental value of our team and our sport. Bastien has informed us of this affair and firmly and formally denies the allegations.”
Rugby World Cup 2023: Power ranking all 20 nations
Monday 4 September 2023 10:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s Rugby World Cup week, the tournament finally upon us and eyes turning to Paris ahead of that mouthwatering opening fixture between France and New Zealand. All 20 teams are now in France at their base camps, covering every corner of the country from Le Touquet in the north to Nice down on the French riviera.
But which nations will fancy their chances? Find out in The Independent’s power rankings:
Rugby World Cup power rankings: Rating every nation’s chances ahead of the tournament
Rugby World Cup 2023 squad guide: Every player, fixtures and more
Monday 4 September 2023 09:41 , Jack Rathborn
The Rugby World Cup starts on September 8 when host nation France take on New Zealand, in a match set to kick-start a thrilling competition.
An unbalanced draw sets up intrigue where sides other than the favourites of Ireland, France, New Zealand and South Africa could go further into the tournament than expected.
It will be the first time that the tournament returns to a nation that has been a previous sole host, after the 2007 edition was also held in France.
Chile make their tournament debut after beating Canada and the USA in Americas qualifying, while Portugal are set to return to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Rugby World Cup 2023 squad guide: Players, fixtures and more
Rugby World Cup 2023 talking points including England crisis and TMO Bunker
Monday 4 September 2023 09:39 , Jack Rathborn
One of the most eagerly-awaited tournaments in Rugby World Cup history will unfold in France during September and October.
It takes place across nine host cities – Paris, Toulouse, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Lille – with more than 2.5 million tickets sold.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the competition.
Rugby World Cup 2023 talking points including England crisis
