The 2023 Rugby World Cup begins this Friday. The opening match, which will include France and the New Zealand All Blacks, begins at 4:15 p.m. (Argentina time) at the Stade de France in Paris, under the baton of South African Jaco Peyper and with television from ESPN and Public TV. In addition, the meeting and the opening ceremony, which took place an hour before, can be followed via streaming on the Star+ platform.
The television broadcasts of the event will reach 182 countries, and it is expected that there will be more than 10 million viewers on French territory alone. In addition, World Rugby will broadcast games via its website for nations that do not have television. Due to its worldwide audience, the number of spectators in the stadiums, the flow of tourists, and the millions of dollars circulating around it, it is the third most important sporting event in the world after football and the Olympic Games.
According to the organization, the opening ceremony will be led by actor Jean Dujardin and accompanied by Olivier Ferracci and Nora Matthey from L’Endroit. More than 200 volunteers will take part, and the aim will be to show the best of French culture. “With an expected attendance of more than 80,000 fans, the atmosphere promises to be thrilling. The show will showcase the essence of French heritage and passion for sport. The ceremony will highlight the French experience and lifestyle, paying tribute to fashion, gastronomy, music, and traditions while commemorating the 200th anniversary of rugby,” he explained.
Bill Beaumont, chairman of World Rugby, highlighted Dujardin’s participation in the ceremony, providing details: “Not only will it be a fascinating spectacle showcasing the best of France’s rich heritage and deep-rooted love of rugby, but it will represent a “remarkable testament to the collective efforts and unwavering enthusiasm of everyone working behind the scenes to give fans the most memorable Rugby World Cup in history.”
- Day: Friday, September 8th.
- Time: Starts at 3:00 p.m. (Argentina time).
- Television: ESPN and public television
- Streaming: Star+.
- Conductors: Jean Dujardin, Olivier Ferracci, and Nora Matthey from L’Endroit
- Opening match, 4:15 p.m.: France vs. New Zealand
The Rugby World Cup is relatively new, having only held nine editions so far. The first of these was in Australia-New Zealand in 1987 and was won by the All Blacks, who remain top winners alongside South Africa (they also celebrated at home in 2011 and in England in 2015 and finished second in South Africa in 1995)
The Springboks, for their part, were crowned in their own homeland in 1995, as well as in France in 2007 and in Japan in 2019, so they will defend the crown in 2023 at the tournament to be played in the French country and try to win for the first time in history two consecutive trophies. Australia completes the podium with two stars: Australia (1991) and Great Britain, Ireland, and France (1999); and England, who won the 2003 tournament in Australia.
