Everything You Need To Know About The 2023 Rugby World Cup

2023 is slowly building up towards this year’s biggest event, namely the Rugby World Cup. (RWC). The green-clad Irish team seem to be on a roll ahead of the prestigious championship, as their performance in the Six Nations Championship is going exceptionally well. So, what will the Irish effort at the championship look like?

Fan engagement is a crucial part of the Rugby World Cup experience, and the tournament organizers go to great lengths to ensure that fans feel a part of the action, whether they are on-site or watching from home. For far-away fans, social media has become an increasingly important tool for fan engagement at the Rugby World Cup. Fans from around the world can connect with each other and share their experiences through hashtags and other online platforms. Rugby-related content, such as interviews with players and behind-the-scenes footage, is also shared widely on social media, allowing fans to feel closer to the action even if they can’t be there in person. Prints, memorabilia, and other home décor can help bring the festive spirit of the tournament closer to home.

For those able to attend in person, organizers put a lot of effort into creating a festival-like atmosphere around the tournament, with events and activities taking place both on and off the field. Fan zones are set up in host cities, providing a place for fans to gather and watch matches, and often featuring live music, food and drink, and other entertainment.

The Rugby World Cup: When, where, and how

The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle of international rugby union competition, and is held every four years to determine the best rugby team in the world. The tournament first took place in 1987, and has since become one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the sporting calendar. This year, it is once more time to play the honorable tournament, which is to be held in France. The championship will take place from 8 September to 28 October 2023.

The group structure for the championship is as follows: 

Pool A:

• New Zealand
• France
• Italy
• Uruguay
• Namibia

Pool B:

• Ireland
• South Africa
• Scotland
• Tonga
• Romania

Pool C:

• Wales
• Australia
• Fiji
• Georgia
• Portugal

Pool D:

• England
• Japan
• Argentina
• Samoa 
• Chile

Ireland’s form ahead of the championship

Ireland has a strong history in the Rugby World Cup, having qualified for every tournament since 1987. In the 2019 tournament, Ireland won all of their pool matches, including a memorable victory over Scotland, but were knocked out in the quarterfinals by New Zealand. Despite this disappointment, Ireland remains one of the top teams in the world and is sure to be a contender in future Rugby World Cup tournaments.

Their world-class is for example being currently displayed in the Six Nations Championship, where they were held as favourites after being undefeated in the first rounds, before going on to secure a Grand Slam. In the World Cup, they will play their inaugural game against Romania at 14:30 GMT om September 9 in Bordeaux. The two teams have previously met in three times in pool play at the World Championship: Ireland have won all three meets. Ireland also beat the host nation France with a score of 32-19 in the Six Nations Championship in February, which is bound to give them some confidence ahead of the tournament.