RUGBY

Rugby World Cup 2023, All You Need To Know

September 7, 2023 / Darragh Moloney /

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.

5 August 2023; Keith Earls of Ireland before the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and Italy at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

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.

2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A, Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka City 12/10/2019 Ireland vs Samoa Ireland’s Keith Earls and Conor Murray celebrate after the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

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)

5 November 2022; Conor Murray, left, and Peter OMahony of Ireland celebrate during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

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.

2019 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final, Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo 19/10/2019 New Zealand All Blacks vs Ireland The Ireland team during the New Zealand Haka Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

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.