World Rugby promises action over delays getting into World Cup stadiums

World Rugby has promised to take action after fans were delayed getting into games at the Rugby World Cup in France.

Hundreds of Ireland supporters were still battling to get into the stadium in Bordeaux as their game against Romania kicked off on Saturday afternoon in 35 degree heat.

Fans posting on social media blamed the city's tram system, which was overloaded hours before kick-off and could not cope with the volumes of supporters trying to reach the stadium.

One Irish supporter told RTÉ Sport that the organisation in Bordeaux had been "a shambles", claiming they had spent two hours on a tram to get to the stadium, queued over an hour for a drink and then spent 30 minutes waiting to get to their seat.

There were long queues of fans outside the stadium, as well as swathes of empty seats within, as the game got underway.

There also appeared to be thousands of fans stuck outside the stadium ahead of England's World Cup pool D victory over Argentina in Marseille later on Saturday.

Long queues were milling around outside the stadium gates within minutes of kick-off, and empty seats as the game got underway.

Some fans will have missed Tom Curry's third-minute red card, which sparked a defiant win for England with 27 points from the boot of George Ford.

"While fans were able to take their seats, fan experience is paramount, and we are working with all stakeholders to establish the facts and implement measures to prevent such delays for the remaining Rugby World Cup 2023 matches at the venue," World Rugby said, referring only to the England-Argentina game.

The organisational woes will be an embarrassment for French authorities as they prepare to host the summer Olympics next July in Paris.

The scenes also had echoes of the 2022