The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by France from September 8 – October 21, 2023
The Rugby World Cup is a quadrennial professional men’s Rugby Union tournament. Every four years the worldwide competition makes for some top notch Rugby Union betting opportunities as 20 Rugby World Cup teams battle it out for the Webb Ellis Cup.
Betting on the Rugby World Cup winner is open in the years leading up to the event and once the contest begins head-to-head Rugby Union odds are open on every match.
The first Rugby World Cup took place in 1987 between sixteen teams. Over the years New Zealand have dominated scoring three World Cup Rugby Championship titles, most recently in 2015. The other three countries to take home the Rugby World Cup trophy are South Africa (3 titles including the 2019 Rugby World Cup), Australia (2 titles) and England who scored in 2003 with an extra time win over Australia.
The Webb Ellis Cup awarded to the Rugby World Cup Champions. Photo Credit: World Rugby.
The next Rugby World Cup takes place in 2020 with France the host nation for the tournament running between September 8 and October 21, 2023.
2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP
France will host the 10th Rugby World Cup in 2023. It is the second time the tournament takes place in France following the 2007 tournament.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 is considered a warm-up for the host nation ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup also marks the 200th anniversary since Rugby Union was said to have been invented by William Webb Ellis.
The Rugby World Cup 2020 final is set to take place at Stade de France, which is Europe’s eighth-largest stadium.
- Rugby World Cup 2023 Dates: September 8 – October 21, 2023
- No. of Teams: 20
- Host Nation: France
- Edition: 10th Rugby World Cup
- Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Venue: Stade de France
- Defending Rugby World Cup Champions: South Africa (2019)
RUGBY WORLD CUP TEAMS
There are now 20 Rugby World Cup clubs in the tournament. When the event was first instituted there were sixteen World Cup teams before the additional four clubs joined the comp in 1999.
New Zealand are the defending Rugby World Cup champions in 2019.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup Teams are divided into four pools for the First Round – also known as the Pool Stage.
The official Rugby World Cup 2023 pool draw takes place in Paris on November 30, 2020.
2023 QUALIFIED RUGBY WORLD CUP TEAMS
| Qualified Teams: Rugby World Cup 2023 |
| Africa |
 South Africa |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
7 |
Champions (1995, 2007, 2019) |
1 |
| Asia |
 Japan |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Quarter-finals (2019) |
8 |
| Europe |
 England |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Champions (2003) |
3 |
 France |
Hosts |
9 |
Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011) |
7 |
 Ireland |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Quarter-finals (seven times) |
4 |
 Italy |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Pool stage |
12 |
 Scotland |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Fourth place (1991) |
9 |
 Wales |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Third place (1987) |
5 |
| Oceania |
 Australia |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Champions (1991, 1999) |
6 |
 Fiji |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
8 |
Quarter-finals (1987, 2007) |
11 |
 New Zealand |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Champions (1987, 2011, 2015) |
2 |
| South America |
 Argentina |
Top 3 in 2019 RWC pool |
9 |
Third place (2007) |
10 |
2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP FIXTURES
The full Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures are yet to be determined.
Since the Rugby World Cup was first contested in 1987 just four nations have held up the coveted Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand and South Africa are the equal most successful Rugby World Cup clubs with wins three wins each.
New Zealand also played in the closest Rugby World Cup final result defeating France for their second title in 2011 8 – 7.
- Most Titles: New Zealand (1987, 2011, 2015); South Africa (1995, 2007, 2019)
- Other Winning Nations: Australia (1991, 1999); England (2003)
- Closest Rugby World Cup Final: 1 point – NZ (8) def. France (7) in 2011
- Largest Winning Margin: 23 points – Australia (35) def. France (12) in 1999
| Year |
Host Nation/s |
Rugby World Cup Champions |
Score |
Runners-Up |
| 1987 |
Australia & New Zealand |
New Zealand |
29 – 9 |
France |
| 1991 |
England, France, Ireland, Scotland & Wales |
Australia |
12 – 6 |
England |
| 1995 |
South Africa |
South Africa |
15 – 12 (Extra Time) |
New Zealand |
| 1999 |
Wales, England, France, Ireland & Scotland |
Australia |
35 – 12 |
France |
| 2003 |
Australia |
England |
20 – 17 (Extra Time) |
Australia |
| 2007 |
France |
South Africa |
15 – 6 |
England |
| 2011 |
New Zealand |
New Zealand |
8 – 7 |
France |
| 2015 |
England |
New Zealand |
34 – 17 |
Australia |
| 2019 |
Japan |
South Africa |
32 – 12 |
England |
| 2023 |
France |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
RUGBY WORLD CUP TEAM RECORDS
| Team |
Championship Wins |
Runners-Up |
Third |
Fourth |
Quarter-Finals |
Top 8 Apperances |
| New Zealand |
3 (1987, 2011, 2015) |
1 (1995) |
2 (1991, 2003, 2019) |
1 (1999) |
1 (2007) |
9 |
| Australia |
2 (1991, 1999) |
2 (2003, 2015) |
1 (2011) |
1 (1987) |
3 (1995, 2007, 2019) |
7 |
| South Africa |
2 (1995, 2007, 2019) |
– |
2 (1999, 2015) |
– |
2 (2003, 2011) |
9 |
| England |
1 (2003) |
2 (1991, 2007, 2019) |
– |
1 (1995) |
3 (1987, 1999, 2011) |
8 |
| France |
– |
3 (1987, 1999, 2011) |
1 (1995) |
2 (2003, 2007) |
3 (1991, 2015, 2019) |
9 |
| Wales |
– |
– |
1 (1987) |
1 (2011) |
3 (1999, 2003, 2015, 2019) |
6 |
| Argentina |
– |
– |
1 (2007) |
1 (2015) |
2 (1999, 2011) |
4 |
| Scotland |
– |
– |
– |
1 (1991) |
6 (1987, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015) |
7 |
| Ireland |
– |
– |
– |
– |
7 (1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2019) |
7 |
| Fiji |
– |
– |
– |
– |
2 (1987, 2007) |
2 |
| Samoa |
– |
– |
– |
– |
2 (1991, 1995) |
2 |
| Canada |
– |
– |
– |
– |
1 (1991) |
1 |
| Japan |
– |
– |
– |
– |
1 (2019) |
1 |