Rugby World Cup 2023: dates, fixtures, schedule, odds and how to watch on TV

Here is what you need to know about the pools, schedule, venues, past winners and betting odds for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, which begins on Friday and ends with the Oct. 28 final.

DATES

* The 10th edition of the showpiece event will run from Sept. 8-Oct. 28.

* It begins with host nation France taking on New Zealand.

TEAMS

The Rugby World Cup begins with 20 teams divided into four pools of five.

* POOL A: France (hosts), New Zealand, 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

There are then four quarter-finals, two semi-finals a third-place playoff and the final.

VENUES

* Games are being staged at nine stadiums - Stade de Bordeaux, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, OL Stadium, Stade de Marseille, Stade de la Beaujoire, Stade de Nice, Stade de France, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and Stadium de Toulouse.

* With a capacity of just over 80,000 seats, Stade de France is the largest of France's nine World Cup stadiums. It will host the final on Oct. 28.

SCHEDULE (all times GMT)

DATE POOL FIXTURE TIME VENUE

Sept. 8 A France v New Zealand 1915 Stade de France

Sept. 9 A Italy v Namibia 1100 Stade

Geoffroy-Guichar

d

Sept. 9 B Ireland v Romania 1330 Stade de

Bordeaux

Sept. 9 C Australia v Georgia 1600 Stade de France

Sept. 9 D England v Argentina 1900 Stade de

Marseille

Sept. D Japan v Chile 1100 Stadium de

10 Toulouse

Sept. B South Africa v 1545 Stade de

10 Scotland Marseille

Sept. C Wales v Fiji 1900 Stade de

10 Bordeaux

Sept. A France v Uruguay 1900 Stade

14 Pierre-Mauroy

Sept. A New Zealand v Namibia 1900 Stadium de

15 Toulouse

Sept. D Samoa v Chile 1300 Stade de

16 Bordeaux

Sept. C