Rugby World Cup 2023, All You Need To Know

Farrell’s side come into the tournament as fourth favourites, priced at 4/1 behind host nation France, South Africa and New Zealand.

Ireland are just days away from kicking off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in Bordeuax, where they will meet Romania on September 9.

The Boys in Green come into their opening game as overwhelming favourites, but will have their sights set on the latter stages of the competition, as they aim to navigate their way past the quarter-final phase for the first time ever.

New Zealand comfortably eliminated Ireland from the 2019 World Cup in the Quarter-Final, in what was Joe Schmidt’s last game in charge but four years later, Ireland look best poised since the tournaments inception in 1987.

Ireland come into he tournament as the World’s #1 ranked side but will face huge competition in the group that contains the reigning champions South Africa and Scotland.

Still, after winning 13 successive games, including a Grand Slam earlier this year, this Irish squad will look to go all the way in France as we provide all you need to know about the 10th edition of the RWC.

Irish Squad

Head Coach Farrell has announced his 33-player Ireland squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Jonathan Sexton named to captain the team in France.

In total there are eight Munster men included, with four of those from Limerick in Keith Earls, Conor Murray, Craig Casey and Dave Kilcoyne. They join provincial mates Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Beirne, Jeremy Loughman and Jack Crowley.

Sexton is one of three Ireland players set to appear at their fourth Rugby World Cup, with the captain having featured at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 editions alongside Murray and recent Test centurion Earls.

Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad

Irish Fixtures

Ireland are in Pool B alongside defending champions South Africa, Scotland, Tonga and Romania. The battle for top spot will likely be decided when Farrell’s men clash with the Springboks on September 23 in Paris.

The Irish kick off their campaign against the Romanians on Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm (3.30 local time) and will be heavily fancied to win their opening pair of games before that clash with the reigning champions.

• Saturday 9 September: Ireland vs Romania, (Bordeaux, 2.30pm)
• Saturday 16 September: Ireland vs Tonga, (Nantes, 8pm)
• Saturday 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland, (Paris, 8pm)
• Saturday 7 October: Ireland vs Scotland, (Paris, 8pm)

Key Dates

Ireland already know when they will opening and closing their pool campaign, but how they do will determine the dates of any later fixtures they may compete in.

Ireland will either compete in Quarter-Final 2 or Quarter Final 4 should they make it out of their pool, which sees the winner of Pool B face the runner-up of Pool A, and the runner-up of Pool B face the winner of Pool A respectively.

The final is scheduled to be played on October 28 in Paris.

• 9 September: Ireland vs Romania, (Bordeaux, 2.30pm)
• 16 September: Ireland vs Tonga, (Nantes, 8pm)
• 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland, (Paris, 8pm)
• 7 October: Ireland vs Scotland, (Paris, 8pm)
• 14/15 October: Quarter-Final
• 20/21 October: Semi-Final
• 28 October: Final

Past Record

Ireland have been involved in all but one Rugby World Cup since it’s 1987 inception, and have made the Quarter-Final stage on six of their eight attempts.

The Boys in Green have topped their pool in 2011 and 2015, although they would be eliminated straight after that stage, and have never made it to the semi-finals.

That statistic is one that is always pressed to the Irish set up with notable defeats to the likes of Argentina and Wales in the last decade.

Currently ranked as number one in the World, there is huge expectations that Andy Farrell’s men will arrest that stat.

• 1991 – Quarter-Finals
• 1995 – Quarter-Finals
• 1999 – Quarter-Final play-offs
• 2003 – Quarter-Finals
• 2007 – Pool Stage
• 2011 – Quarter-Finals
• 2015 – Quarter-Finals
• 2019 – Quarter-Finals

Past Winners

Ireland have three-time winners South Africa for company in Pool B, and the Springboks are joined by tournament favourites New Zealand as the only country to have won on three occasions.

Australia ran out winners in 1991 and 1999, while neighbours England won their sole RWC in 2003.

• 2019 – South Africa
• 2015 – New Zealand
• 2011 – New Zealand
• 2007 – South Africa
• 2003 – England
• 1999 – Australia
• 1995 – South Africa
• 1991 – Australia
• 1987 – New Zealand

Bookies Odds

Farrell’s side come into the tournament as fourth favourites, priced at 4/1 behind host nation France, Pool B opponents South Africa and three-time champions New Zealand.

The All Blacks come in at 11/4, as do France, while South Africa can be got slightly back at 10/3.

• New Zealand (11/4)
• France (11/4)
• South Africa (10/3)
• Ireland (4/1)
• Australia (10/1)
• England (12/1)
• Argentina (20/1)
• Wales (30/1)
• Scotland (35/1)
• Fiji (80/1)
• Japan (200/1)
• Tonga (400/1)
• Samoa (425/1)
• Georgia (500/1)
• Italy (500/1)
• Namibia (500/1)
• Romania (500/1)
• Uruguay (500/1)
• Chile (500/1)
• Portugal (500/1)

Ireland kick their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign off on September 9 against Romania at 2.30pm