The Rugby World Cup 2023 is almost here with teams squeezing in their final warm-up matches prior to the big kick-off in France.

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Reigning champions South Africa trek to the Northern Hemisphere in a bid to defend their crown but a number of menacing opponents will also fancy their chances of victory.

New Zealand have returned to formidable shape, while France boast an elite unit capable of mounting a legimitate charge.

Six Nations champions Ireland appear the most likely candidate from the British Isles to claim the title, perennial dark horses Scotland will assume their position behind the elite pack once again, while Wales and England are in ropey shape on and off the field right now.

RadioTimes.com brings you all the dates you need to know for the Rugby World Cup 2023.

When is the Rugby World Cup 2023?

The Rugby World Cup 2023 will begin on Friday 8th September 2023 and run until the final on Saturday 28th October 2023.

Rugby World Cup 2023 schedule

Pool stage

Friday 8th September 2023

France v New Zealand (8pm, Paris)

Saturday 9th September 2023

Italy v Namibia (12pm, Saint-Etienne)

Ireland v Romania (2:30pm, Bordeaux)

Australia v Georgia (5pm, Paris)

England v Argentina (8pm, Marseille)

Sunday 10th September 2023

Japan v Chile (12pm, Toulouse)

South Africa v Scotland (4:45pm, Marseille)

Wales v Fiji (8pm, Bordeaux)

Thursday 14th September 2023

France v Uruguay (8pm, Lille)

Friday 15th September 2023

New Zealand v Namibia (8pm, Toulouse)

Saturday 16th September 2023

Samoa v Chile (2pm, Bordeaux)

Wales v Portugal (4:45pm, Nice)

Ireland v Tonga (8pm, Nantes)

Sunday 17th September 2023

South Africa v Romania (2pm, Bordeaux)

Australia v Fiji (4:45pm, Saint-Etienne)

England v Japan (8pm, Nice)

Wednesday 20th September 2023

Italy v Uruguay (4:45pm, Nice)

Thursday 21st September 2023

France v Namibia (8pm, Marseille)

Friday 22nd September 2023

Argentina v Samoa (4:45pm, Saint-Etienne)

Saturday 23rd September 2023

Georgia v Portugal (1pm, Toulouse)

England v Chile (4:45pm, Lille)

South Africa v Ireland (8pm, Paris)

Sunday 24th September 2023

Scotland v Tonga (4:45pm, Nice)

Wales v Australia (8pm, Lyon)

Wednesday 27th September 2023

Uruguay v Namibia (4:45pm, Lyon)

Thursday 28th September 2023

Japan v Samoa (8pm, Toulouse)

Friday 29th September 2023

New Zealand v Italy (8pm, Lyon)

Saturday 30th September 2023

Argentina v Chile (2pm, Nantes)

Fiji v Georgia (4:45pm, Bordeaux)

Scotland v Romania (8pm, Lille)

Sunday 1st October 2023

Australia v Portugal (4:45pm, Saint-Etienne)

South Africa v Tonga (8pm, Marseille)

Thursday 5th October 2023

New Zealand v Uruguay (8pm, Lyon)

Friday 6th October 2023

France v Italy (8pm, Lyon)

Saturday 7th October 2023

Wales v Georgia (2pm, Nantes)

England v Samoa (2:45pm, Lille)

Ireland v Scotland (8pm, Paris)

Sunday 8th October 2023

Japan v Argentina (12pm, Nantes)

Tonga v Romania (4:45pm, Lille)

Fiji v Portugal (8pm, Toulouse)

Quarter-finals

Saturday 14th October 2023

QF1 – Pool C Winner v Pool D Runner-Up (4pm, Marseille)

QF2 – Pool B Winner v Pool A Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)

Sunday 15th October 2023

QF3 - Pool D Winner v Pool C Runner-Up (4pm, Marseille)

QF4 - Pool A Winner v Pool B Runner-Up (8pm, Paris)

Semi-finals

Friday 20th October 2023

SF1 - QF1 Winner v QF2 Winner (8pm, Paris)

Saturday 21th October 2023

SF2 - QF3 Winner v QF4 Winner (8pm, Paris)

Third-place play-off

Friday 27th October 2023

SF1 loser v SF2 loser (8pm, Paris)

Final

Saturday 28th October 2023

SF1 winner v SF2 winner (8pm, Paris)

If you're looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news.

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Authors

Michael PottsSport Editor

Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.

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