The Rugby World Cup is back, and we are eagerly awaiting this spectacular event, which kicks off tomorrow with France playing New Zealand at 21:15 SAST in Stade de France. Whether you’re a seasoned rugby fan or new to the sport, here’s everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023.
Tournament Overview
Dates and Venues
The Rugby World Cup 2023 will take place from September 8 to October 28, 2023, and various cities across France will host matches, with the final scheduled to take place at the iconic Stade de France in Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris.
Participating Teams
As is customary for the tournament, 20 of the world’s top rugby-playing nations will compete in this prestigious event. The teams will be divided into four pools, each containing five teams, during the pool stage. Find out which country made it to the top 20 here.
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Format
Pool Stage
The tournament kicks off with the pool stage, where teams in each group play a round-robin format. Each team faces every other team in their pool once, earning points for wins and draws. Bonus points are awarded for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer.
Knockout Stage
Following the pool stage, the top two teams from each pool advance to the knockout stage. This includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the grand finale. The tournament culminates with the crowning of the Rugby World Cup champion.
Here are the key dates to mark on your calendar for when the Springboks, the reigning champions, will be in action:
See the South Africa Rugby World Cup squad 2023 here.
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Where to Watch?
If you want to watch the Rugby World Cup from South Africa, SuperSport is the place to go. There are various SuperSport packages available, whether you want to watch via DStv or stream.