he Rugby World Cup begins tonight as France performs host to what guarantees to be a blockbuster event that's vast open on the high.
Les Bleus followers will probably be optimistic {that a} first international triumph on dwelling soil might lastly now beckon with Fabien Galthie’s aspect packed filled with depth and expertise and led by the irrepressible Antoine Dupont, although accidents and controversy have moderately plagued their build-up as they search to go one higher than their earlier three runners-up finishes.
France will do battle with the mighty New Zealand in Pool A, the Rugby Championship-winning All Blacks gunning for a fourth success after being demolished by England on the semi-final stage in Japan 4 years in the past.
The World Cup draw is closely lopsided having been performed nearly three years upfront, with top-ranked Ireland and No2 group and defending champions South Africa locked collectively in a nightmare Pool B together with Scotland.
Andy Farrell’s Men in Green are closely fancied to lastly finish their World Cup hoodoo after Six Nations Grand Slam glory and a powerful summer season sequence, however the Springboks are in sometimes ominous temper as they give the impression of being to efficiently defend their crown.
Wales and Australia - who've struggled notably underneath Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones respectively - are acquainted foes together with England conquerors Fiji in Pool C, whereas Steve Borthwick’s England have endured a horrendous run-up to the event as they conflict with Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile in Pool D.
Few have given England any likelihood of lifting their second Webb Ellis Cup and first for 20 years after a torrid 2023 up to now, although Borthwick is satisfied that they are going to spring some surprises in France.
Here is the whole lot you'll want to know for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, together with fixtures, kick-off occasions, the right way to watch each sport at no cost, venues and newest odds.
All occasions BST, except said
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 last
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)
Stade de France, Paris (capability 80,023)
Stade Velodrome, Marseille (capability 67,847)
OL Stadium, Lyon (capability 58,883)
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille (capability 50,096)
Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux (capability 42,115)
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne (capability 41,965)
Stade de Nice, Nice (capability 35,983)
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes (capability 35,520)
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse (capability 33,150)
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 by way of Betfair (topic to vary).
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