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The 12 host cities have been named for France 2023. The Fédération française de rugby (FFR) is looking to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, 16 years after France 2007. Unlike in 2007 it would be a tournament with matches exclusively played in France.
The final venues included see virtually all of the hexagon included. The same ten cities from Rugby World Cup 2007 are included. Bordeaux and Lyon see different stadiums to that of 2007 but remain included. Lille and Nice are included for 2023 but were not used in 2007.
Ten of the twelve venues are those used to host EURO 2016. Montpellier and Nantes are the added cities. Both venues have played host to Top 14, Champions Cup and test match rugby in the past. Canada played against Wales in Nantes in Rugby World Cup 2007 while the USA faced Tonga in Montpellier.
France has played host to Argentina in a range of venues. These include Lille, Montpellier, Marseilles and Paris. Los Pumas have also appeared in additional venues in World Cup matches. In 1999 Argentina famously toppled Ireland in Lens while the South Americans overcame Georgia in Lyon in 2007.
All of the final 12 venues have played host to elite rugby in the past. What remains unconfirmed is what is to be the second Parisian venue. The Stade de France is included as one with either the Parc des Princes or the new Arena 92 to be included.
France is up against Ireland and South Africa. One of the three will host the 2023 tournament. Ireland’s list of venues can be seen by clicking here. France 2023 offers a wider variety of medium and large sized stadiums. South Africa is yet to make an official announcement.
| CITY | STADIUM | CAPACITY |
| Bordeaux | Matmut Atlantique | 42,000 |
| Lens | Stade Bollaert-Delelis | 38,000 |
| Lille | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 50,000 |
| Lyon | Parc OL | 59,000 |
| Marseilles | Stade Vélodrome | 67,000 |
| Montpellier | Stade de la Mosson | 32,000 |
| Nantes | Stade de la Beaujoire | 37,500 |
| Nice | Allianz Riviera | 35,000 |
| Paris – venue tba | tba | tba |
| Saint Denis | Stade de France | 80,000 |
| Saint Etienne | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 42,000 |
| Toulouse | Le Stadium | 33,000 |
