Written by Bregje Schippers
The Rugby World Cup 2023 matches will be played in nine of the most beautiful stadiums in France, from the world famous Stade de France to Municipal Toulouse. In this blog we highlight them for you one by one.
1. Stade de France, Saint-Denis
2. Stade Velodrome, Marseille
3. Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon
4. Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
5. Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux
6. Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
7. Allianz Riviera, Nice
8. Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
9. Stadium Municipal Toulouse, Toulouse
The Stade de France is France’s national stadium and will be the largest stadium used during Rugby World Cup 2023. With a capacity of 80,000 the two semi-finals will be played here.
Stade de France is located just north of Paris, in the suburb of Saint-Denis. It was opened in 1998 for the World Cup and is regularly used by the French national rugby team. On Friday 8 September Rugby World Cup 2023 starts here with a spectacular opening match between France and New Zealand.
The Stade Vélodrome was opened in 1937 and has since been renovated several times. Since 1970 it has been the home of Olympique Marseille FC. Rugby Club Toulonnais also play in this ground for major matches. The stadium has a special design with a wavy roof and is based in a prime location in the city center of Marseille not far from the Old Port.
Like Stade de France, Stade Vélodrome is also regularly used by the national rugby team of France. Two quarter-finals were played here during Rugby World Cup 2007. This will be the case again in 2023. During the England will face Argentina here, the match is scheduled for 9 September 2023 at Stade Vélodrome.
Parc Olympique Lyonnais (OL Stadium) was not yet built at the time of Rugby World Cup 2007. This modern stadium was completed in 2015 and has built up a great history of rugby matches in a short time. In 2016 the finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup were played here.
French rugby fans know the way to the stadium, which is officially called Groupama Stadium. On May 25th in 2018, no fewer than 58,664 people attended the match between Montpellier HR and Lyon OU in the Top 14, the highest rugby competition in France.
New Zealand will play in Parc OL twice in the pool phase of the tournament. On Friday 29 September against Italy and on Thursday 5 October against Americas 1.
In Lille, the city in the north of France on the border of Belgium, we find a stadium called Stade Pierre-Mauroy. This stadium, named after a former mayor of the city, is used by football club Lille OSC and can accommodate more than 50,000 spectators. The roof can be closed, so that matches can be played in bad weather conditions.
Scotland (30 September 2023) and France (14 September 2023) play a pool match here and England will play twice (27 September and 7 October 2023).
Football club Girondins de Bordeaux play their home matches here. The semi-finals of the national French rugby competition were played here in 2014/2015. In 2016, this stadium was one of the venues for the European Football Championship, an event that Irish sports fans have fond memories of.
In the pool phase of Rugby World Cup 2023, five matches will be played in Matmut Atlantique. Ireland, Wales and South Africa among others will compete on these grounds in Bordeaux.
In Saint-Étienne they have enough experience organizing tournaments. The Stade Geoffroy Guichard has already organized matches for various football tournaments, such as the 1984 and 2016 European Championships and the 1998 World Cup. In 2007 three matches were played here during Rugby World Cup 2007.
Normally, football club AS Saint-Étienne play on the field of Stade Geoffroy Guichard. The stadium is then called ” the boiler” or “the green hell”. During Rugby World Cup 2023 supporters from Australia will line the stands during matches on Sunday 17 September against Fiji and Sunday 1 October against the last winner of the qualification.
It will not surprise you, but Allianz Riviera in Nice is normally used for football matches. OGC Nice have called the stadium its home since it opened in 2013. The stadium is multifunctional so Rugby Club Toulonnais regularly play here too.
There are four Rugby World Cup 2023 pool matches with different teams on the program. The match on 17 September between England and Japan has already been announced. The opponents of Wales, Italy and Scotland still need to qualify.
Stade de la Beaujoire in the western port city Nantes is not only a football stadium but also a real rugby stadium. 15 November 1986, the French national team beat New Zealand 16-3 here, a memorable victory. In 2007 three matches were played at Stade de la Beaujoire and in 2023, four pool matches will be played here.
On 8 October 2023, Stade de la Beaujoire will be the stage for Japan v Argentina in Pool D. We can certainly provide you with a place in the crowd as FC Nantes’ stadium can accommodate nearly 40,000 people.
In the south of France towards the border with Spain, the Stadium de Toulouse is located in a special place: on an island in the river Garonne. The stadium, also known as Stadium Municipal, was built on this charming location near the city center in 1937.
Rugby club Stade Toulousain play matches in Stadium de Toulouse for the European Rugby Champions Cup and the Top 14. The French national rugby team played here in 2009 in an international match against South Africa, France won 20–13.
During Rugby World Cup 2023, Stadium de Toulouse will host five pool matches, of which Japan will play twice.
Do you want to experience the best rugby matches live in these beautiful stadiums in 2023? Book official packages for Rugby World Cup 2023 quickly and securely at The Rugby World Cup.
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