The Rugby World Cup 2023 will feature matches at nine of France’s top rugby stadiums. The best rugby teams in the world will compete in stadia around the nation, from Stadium Pierre-Mauroy in Lille to Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
Although nine different stadiums will be used for the world cup, The Stade de France in Saint-Denis will host the final, the bronze final, and both semifinal matches. More than 80,000 spectators will purchase Rugby World Cup tickets to enter this famous sports venue to watch the action unfold.
1. Stade de Bordeaux
Capacity: 42,060
Stadium de Bordeaux, the stadium that serves as the home of the city’s Ligue 1 football team, first opened its doors in May 2015, less than two weeks before it hosted the Top 14 play-offs’ semifinals. In June 2019, rugby was played at the stadium once more, and 42,071 spectators filled the stands to watch Stade Toulousain play Stade Rochelais in the Top 14 semifinals. This record-breaking crowd still stands today!
In addition to hosting the French national football team and the Coupe de la Ligue final, Stadium de Bordeaux hosted five games during UEFA Euro 2016. Fiji, Ireland, South Africa, Wales, and Samoa have already been confirmed to play in Bordeaux during the RWC 2023 as the futuristic stadium prepares to host five matches.
2. Stade Pierre Mauroy
Capacity: 50,096
Stadium Pierre-Mauroy, which was opened in August 2012 as the residence for Lille OSC, played host to its inaugural rugby match three months later when France defeated Argentina 39–22. While Lille served as the host city for the 1991 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand‘s quarterfinal triumph over Canada was played at the adjacent Stadium du Nord.
The stadium, which hosted UEFA Euro 2016 matches, is cleverly designed so that it can be readily set up for different events as one side of the pitch can be elevated to slide over the other. As a result, Stadium Pierre-Mauroy has played host to three Davis Cup finals, the 2015 Euro Basket knockout round, and other high-profile music events. France, England, Scotland, and Samoa will all be present at the stadium for five RWC 2023 pool matches.
3. Ol Stadium
Capacity: 58,883
The Olympique Lyonnais stadium, which opened in January 2016, has subsequently played host to a number of international sporting events, including rugby. The Challenge Cup and European Champions Cup finals were played at OL Stadium, which had just been operational for four months, at that time.
A France XV was defeated 28-23 by New Zealand in front of 58,607 spectators in November 2017. The Top 14 semifinals were held at OL Stadium at the conclusion of the season. However, the city has a strong rugby history. RWC 2007 matches were held in Stadium de Gerland, and Lyon OU, a two-time French champion team, is located in the city.
The Coupe de la Ligue final and UEFA Europa League final have both been played on the hybrid grass at OL Stadium, which previously hosted matches at the UEFA Euro 2016 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019.
Wales and Australia are slated to compete in the first RWC 2023 game at the stadium, and fans with tickets for Lyon should be in for a treat because hosts France, Italy, and New Zealand are also planned to visit the city.
4. Stade de Marseille
Capacity: 67,847
The Stadium de Marseille, a historic venue that has undergone three renovations since its 1937 debut, hosted two quarterfinals of the RWC 2007. The stadium, which served as the host site for the FIFA World Cups in 1938 and 1998 and is the home of Ligue 1 team Olympique de Marseille, hosted its first test match on November 18, 2000, when France defeated New Zealand 42–33. Les Bleus have since played 11 more tests at the storied location, winning nine of them and losing two—to Argentina in 2004 and the All Blacks in 2009.
RC Toulonnais played Stade Toulousain at home on April 18, 2009, in front of 57,039 spectators. Since then, they have come back a few times.
There will be four pool matches for the RWC 2023 played there, including the match between England and Argentina and France vs. the winners of the Africa Cup of 2022, as well as two quarterfinals.
5. Stade De La Beaujoire
Capacity: 35,520
One of the most memorable Rugby World Cup matches took occurred at Stadium de la Beaujoire, as Fiji defeated Wales 38-34 and advanced to the quarterfinals with four tries. The final of three RWC 2007 matches played in the stadium saw England defeat Samoa and Wales defeat Canada 42-17, providing spectators with a more pleasant memories.
On November 15, 1986, the stadium played host to its inaugural test match, which saw France defeat New Zealand 16-3. Thereafter, Les Bleus played six more games there. The most recent was a defeat against Fiji by a score of 34–12 on November 13, 2010. The Stade de la Beaujoire opened in 1984 and is the home of Ligue 1 team FC Nantes and served as the venue for games of the FIFA World Cup in 1998, where Brazil defeated Denmark 3-2.
The highlight for local fans will be the match between Japan and Argentina on the penultimate day of the pool stage, one of four games that will be played at Stadium de la Beaujoire.
6. Stade De Nice
Capacity: 35,983
Another host venue for the RWC 2023, Stadium de Nice is the home of Ligue 1 team OGC Nice and has previously hosted events for the UEFA Euro 2016 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. On August 17, 2019, the stadium played host to its lone test, when France defeated Scotland 32-3 thanks to two tries from Maxime Médard. Moreover, the stadium has hosted Top 14 games for RC Toulonnais.
Wales, England, Japan, Italy, and Scotland are among the nations slated to play at Stadium de Nice manicured turf during the RWC 2023. The match between England and Japan on September 17, 2023, promises to be one to remember as Eddie Jones faces off against the team he led to the RWC 2015.
7. Stade De France
Capacity: 80,023
France’s national stadium, which was constructed for the FIFA World Cup in 1998, now serves as the home turf for the nation’s rugby squad. On February 7, 1998, Les Bleus played their debut game in Saint-Denis, defeating England 24-17 as Philippe Bernat-Salles and the late Christophe Dominici both crossed the finish line.
The Stadium de France has hosted 97 men’s test games in total, including the final of the 2007 France World Cup and the RWC 1999 quarterfinal. Both of those games were won by South Africa while they defeated England. On September 23, 2023, the Springboks will play Ireland in the storied stadium for the first time ever during the Rugby World Cup.
At RWC 2023, Stadium de France will host ten games in total, including the tantalizing opener between the All Blacks and the French, both semifinal matches, the bronze medal match, and the championship game.
8. Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Capacity: 42,152
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, the oldest stadium chosen to host the RWC in 2023, was built on September 13, 1931, and has since had three renovations, each taking place before the stadium was used for a significant football event.
On November 24, 2001, Les Bleus scored 12 tries to defeat Fiji 77-10, marking the first time rugby players from France used the stadium. Six years later, three RWC 2007 pool matches were held at the stadium dubbed Stadium Geoffroy-Guichard after the entrepreneur who bought the site on which it was constructed. Despite giving up the only try of the game, Scotland played in two of those, defeating Portugal 56-10 and Italy 18-16.
When Samoa and the USA engaged in a 46-point thriller, the former will return to the venue in 2023 to face Argentina after qualifying as Oceania 1. Stadium Geoffroy-Guichard will host four RWC 2023 matches, with Australia, Argentina, Fiji, Italy, and Samoa all having a guaranteed game at the “City of Design.”
9. Stadium De Toulouse
Capacity: 33,103
Stadium de Toulouse, which was originally constructed to host the FIFA World Cup in 1938, has since had three renovations. It has hosted matches when the sport’s grandest event returned to France 60 years later and again during UEFA Euro 2016.
Rugby has a lengthy history with the ancient stadium, which has hosted games for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14 and European Champions Cup. On December 15, 1963, France played its debut game in the Stadium de Toulouse, drawing 6-6 with Romania. Although South Africa defeated France 13-4 in Toulouse eleven years later, Les Bleus have also experienced several triumphs there. At the Stadium de Toulouse, France has defeated the All Blacks twice: 18-13 in November 1977 and 22-15 in November 1995, when tries from Jean-Luc Sadourny, Richard Dourthe, and Philippe Saint-André helped the French team defeat a New Zealand squad that included Jonah Lomu, who was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Vincent Clerc’s first-half touchdown guided the hosts to a 20-13 victory in November 2009, giving Les Bleus another opportunity to exact revenge on the Springboks.
At that point, four RWC 2007 matches have taken place in the Stadium de Toulouse, featuring the hosts as well as Fiji, Japan, Namibia, Portugal, Romania, and New Zealand. The All Blacks, Fiji, and Japan are already guaranteed to return to Toulouse for the RWC in 2023, while teams like Namibia and Zimbabwe may follow if they qualify as Africa 1.
