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Paris is to be allocated ten matches at RWC 2023, reports L’Equipe. All ten matches will be at the Stade de France, the largest stadium in the country.
The Stade de France is expected to host the opening match and final. This would be a repeat of RWC 2007. In that tournament the Parisian stadium also hosted both Semi Finals and one Quarter Final. Overall, there were seven matches at the Stade de France in RWC 2007.
Unlike RWC 2007, the Stade de France will be the only Parisian venue. In RWC 2007 the Parc de Princes played host to the Bronze Final and four pool matches.
The three subsequent RWCs also also utilized multiple venues in the hub host city. First, Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium represented Auckland at RWC 2011. Second, Twickenham Stadium, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium represented London at RWC 2015. Third, RWC 2019 saw the Japanese capital’s grater region represented by matches at Tokyo Stadium, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, and Yokohama Stadium.
The aggregate numbers meant that Auckland hosted 14 matches in RWC 2011; London hosted 17 in RWC 2015; and Tokyo was allocated 18 in RWC 2019. RWC 2007 saw 11 matches in Paris, one more than RWC 2023.
The 80,000 capacity Stade de France will be supported by three other large venues. Marseilles (67,394) seats more than Eden Park. Lyon (59,186) and Lille (50,157) are the additional options for knock-out matches.
Tickets for RWC 2023 will go on sale in 2021. The draw for the tournament will be staged in Paris in December. It will use the World Rankings as of January 01, 2020.
