600,000 foreign visitors, 660 players, 2.5 million tickets. In 2023, France welcomes the world for the 10th Rugby World Cup in history. With 48 matches scheduled from 8 September to 28 October, the autumn promises to be both sporting and festive in the 10 host cities. Lille, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Nice, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Paris and Saint-Denis will be displaying their finest assets to satisfy the fans (and others!) in search of discoveries: gastronomy, conviviality, art of living, cultural heritage and exceptional landscapes.
Following its staging of the 2007 tournament, France is having a second turn at hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023. Highly anticipated by fans of the oval ball, the event promises to go beyond this and capture everyone’s imagination.
52 days of festivities
The 10th Rugby World Cup will take place from 8 September–28 October 2023, 200 years after the creation of the sport. What a way to reconnect with the founding spirit of rugby and celebrate the event throughout the seven weeks of the competition. The party will take over France, starting with the 10 host cities where matches will be held.
“We are rugby, we are 2023”
This is the slogan of the 2023 World Cup. It’s not necessary to play or even be a supporter to “be rugby”. Rugby is expressed well beyond the field: more than a sport, it’s a state of mind for those who share the virtues of self-sacrifice, collective commitment and respect. The 2023 World Cup wants to raise these values to the roof and invites the 600,000 expected visitors to share them.
Positive Impact
France 2023 and World Rugby confirmed their mutual ambition, with Rugby World Cup France 2023, to raise the existing standards for international sporting events in terms of social responsibility, inclusion and sustainable development.
Four key engagements have been taken: acting for a sustainable and circular economy; investing in education, training and employment; reducing impact on the environment; fostering inclusion and accessibility for all.
More than words, France 2023 and World Rugby have the desire to show tangible proof of their actions, through 15 innovative projects, some already launched and others soon to be deployed.
Promoting tourism, sharing French Flair
With less than a year to go before the opening match, Atout France, the Regional Tourism Boards and the tourist offices of the event’s host cities launch an international campaign to support their tourist attractiveness. The initiative, launched on September 8, exactly one year before the start of the competition, will be deployed in eight markets: The United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, the United States and Italy. This campaign will include a public awareness campaign aimed at providing visibility to all host destinations. It will convey a positive, welcoming and inclusive image of France as a destination. Frédéric Michalak, a former international rugby player with an international reputation, is the ambassador. In addition, throughout the campaign, Atout France is organising, via its network of international offices, marketing campaigns, events for trade and media professionals as well as for the general public.