Rugby World Cup 2023: How to watch, schedule, TV channel, groups, who is playing, who do England play?

Updated 08/10/2023 at 22:48 GMT

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is almost upon us and gets underway with a blockbuster clash as hosts France take on New Zealand in Pool A on September 8. The All Blacks are among the favourites but there are several teams in with a chance of lifting the sport's greatest prize. South Africa start their defence against Scotland on September 10, while England face Argentina on September 9.

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The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 8 featuring the globe's top international sides.

With fixtures running from Friday 8 September to Saturday 28 October, matches will be played across France. Both the hugely anticipated opening game and the final will be held at the Stade de France in Paris.

The tournament will begin with a clash of titans as hosts France take on New Zealand in Pool A.

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Italy, Uruguay, and Namibia are the three teams that will aim to cause an upset in the form of preventing the two favourites from progressing out the group.

Pool B includes reigning champions South Africa, who defeated England 32-12 in the 2019 World Cup final. They face the toughest of challenges though against world ranked No. 1 Ireland. Scotland, Tonga, and Romania pad out the rest of the pool.

Australia headline Pool C, sitting eighth in the world ranking, with Wales, Fiji, Georgia, and Portugal their group-stage competitors. Portugal are competing in only their second Rugby World Cup.

Finally, Pool D contains Japan, Argentina, Samoa, and Chile. Most notably though, an injury-riddled England squad. Kyle Sinckler is the latest injury concern for England manager Steve Borthwick, adding to a lengthy list containing Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly.

When is the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

The 2023 Rugby World Cup runs from September 8 to October 28 in France. France get the action underway as the host nation when they take on New Zealand.

How to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup on TV in the UK

ITV hold the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Rugby World Cup in England and will stream every game live.

Radio commentary will also be available on each match on the BBC, across Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds service.

What are the groups at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

There are four pools of five teams battling it out for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Pool A
New Zealand
France
Italy
Uruguay
Namibia

Pool B
South Africa
Ireland
Scotland
Tonga
Romania

Pool C
Wales
Australia
Fiji
Georgia
Portugal

Pool D
England
Japan
Argentina
Samoa
Chile

What is the schedule at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

All times UK

POOL STAGE

September 8: France v New Zealand, 8.15pm
September 9: Italy v Namibia, 12.00pm
September 9: Ireland v Romania, 2.30pm
September 9: Australia v Georgia, 5.00pm
September 9: England v Argentina, 8.00pm
September 10: Japan v Chile, 12.00pm
September 10: South Africa v Scotland, 4.45pm
September 10: Wales v Fiji, 8.00pm
September 14: France v Uruguay
September 15: New Zealand v Namibia, 8.00pm
September 16: Samoa v Chile, 2.00pm
September 16: Wales v Portugal, 4.45pm
September 16: Ireland v Tonga, 8.00pm
September 17: South Africa v Romania, 2.00pm
September 17: Australia v Fiji, 4.45pm
September 17: England v Japan, 8.00pm
September 20: Italy v Uruguay, 4.45pm
September 21: France v Namibia, 8.00pm
September 22: Argentina v Samoa, 4.45pm
September 23: Georgia v Portugal, 1.00pm
September 23: England v Chile, 4.45pm
September 23: South Africa v Ireland, 8.00pm
September 24: Scotland v Tonga, 4.45pm
September 24: Wales v Australia, 8.00pm
September 27: Uruguay v Namibia, 4.45pm
September 28: Japan v Samoa, 8.00pm
September 29: New Zealand v Italy, 8.00pm
September 30: Argentina v Chile, 2.00pm
September 30: Fiji v Georgia, 4.45pm
September 30: Scotland v Romania, 8.00pm
October 1: Australia v Portugal, 4.45pm
October 1: South Africa v Tonga, 8.00pm
October 5: New Zealand v Uruguay, 8.00pm
October 6: France v Italy, 8.00pm
October 7: Wales v Georgia, 2.00pm
October 7: England v Samoa, 4.45pm
October 7: Ireland v Scotland, 8.00pm
October 8: Japan v Argentina, 12.00pm
October 8: Tonga v Romania, 4.45pm
October 8: Fiji v Portugal, 8.00pm

QUARTER-FINALS

October 14: Wales v Argentina, 4.00pm
October 14: Ireland v New Zealand, 8.00pm
October 15: England v Fiji, 4.00pm
October 15: France v South Africa, 8.00pm

SEMI-FINALS

October 20: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2
October 21: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF

October 27: Runner-up SF1 v Runner-up SF2

FINAL

October 28: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

When are the knockout rounds at the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

Quarter-finals are scheduled to take place across the 14th and 15th October, with semi-finals on the 20th and 21st, before a third-place playoff on the 27th and ultimately the final on the 28th.

Who are the favourites for the 2023 Rugby World Cup?

Many experts are labelling New Zealand as tournament favourites. The All Blacks are level with South Africa who each boast a record three World Cups and in 2015 became the first team to win the trophy three times as well as retain it.

Aaron Smith, who has earned 117 caps, could be the key to New Zealand’s success this year, with memories of a semi-final loss to England in 2019 still fresh in his mind.

Hosts France are of course amongst those in contention for the World Cup title as they kick off their campaign against the All Blacks on home soil. Ranked fourth, Les Bleus will be aiming to do the home fans proud.

Scrum half Antoine Dupont will inevitably be one to watch - with daring flair and tactical brilliance, Dupont has cemented himself as a fan favourite since his debut in 2017.

World No. 1 Ireland will be looking to lift their first ever World Cup, and hot off the 2023 Six Nations grand slam, now seems like the perfect time for The Wolfhounds.

Johnny Sexton is a name synonymous with Irish rugby, performing consistently for his nation for years on end. As Ireland’s most capped player in the team, he will be taking to the global stage for the last time with all ambition to win.

Defending champions South Africa enter the tournament with nine wins and four defeats since their 2019 success and the Springboks will be eager to add a fourth World Cup trophy to their cabinet, overtaking New Zealand.

Lukhanyo Am may prove pivotal to the title defence as the centre recently regained full fitness. Paired next to Damian De Allende, South Africa possess a fantastic midfield.

As always though, there is space for shock results and potentially even a shock tournament winner with the likes of Scotland, Argentina and Fiji all within the top 10 in the world rankings.

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