The 2023 Rugby World Cup is fast approaching and is already generating a lot of excitement among fans of this exciting sport. This global event, which will take place in France, promises to be rich in emotions and strong moments. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at some of the key figures of this competition.
First of all, 20 teams from all over the world will take part in this tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup. These teams are divided into 4 groups and represent different regions: Europe, Oceania, South America, Africa and Asia. It is also the first time that a Chilean team has taken part in the competition, thus joining Argentina and Uruguay as representatives of South America.
The competition will run for 51 days, over 7 weeks, to allow players adequate rest between matches. Each team will now have 33 players in their squad, up from 31, providing better squad management and the ability to bring in additional players in the event of injury.
To mark the commitment to the environment, the medals awarded during the competition were made from more than 200,000 recycled telephones. An initiative that demonstrates the ambition of the organizers to reduce the environmental impact of this event.
The matches will take place in 10 different French cities, with the Stade de France hosting 10 fixtures, including 6 finals matches. Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne will also be venues for the matches.
Beyond the figures, the Rugby World Cup is also marked by a rich history. This year, we celebrate the bicentenary of rugby, which was born in 1823 thanks to William Webb Ellis, a pupil of a school in the English town of Rugby. The trophy awarded to the world champion team also bears his name.
South Africa and New Zealand have each won the competition three times, closely followed by Australia and England who have two victories to their name.
In terms of ticket sales, around 2.5 million tickets are expected to be sold for this event, with large attendances expected from British and Irish supporters.
Finally, note that 26 referees were selected to officiate during the 48 matches of the competition, including two French. A panel of competent officials who will ensure the smooth running of the meetings.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is therefore shaping up to be a major event for fans of this sport. Numbers and statistics only reinforce the scale of this competition which brings together the best teams from all over the world.