• The Springboks will open their 2023 RWC account against Scotland in Marseille on 10 September 2023.
• The Boks will then tackle a qualifying team from Europe in Bordeaux on 17 September 2023, before taking on Ireland in Saint Denis six days later (23 October 2023).
• South Africa will conclude their Pool B schedule against an Asian-Pacific 1 qualifier in Marseille on 1 October 2023.

The dates and venues for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France were unveiled by World Rugby on Friday.

The world champion Springboks will open the defence of their title against Scotland at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday, 10 September 2023.

The Boks were earlier drawn in Pool B for the global showpiece, with South Africa's second match scheduled for Sunday, 17 September at the Stade de Bordeaux against a yet-to-be determined opponent from the Europe 2 qualifying region.

Six days later, on 23 September, the Springboks and Ireland will duel for the first time ever at a World Cup when they meet at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris, the scene of the South Africans' memorable triumph over England in the 2007 final.

The Boks then return to Marseille for their last group match against an Asian-Pacific 1 qualifier in the Stade Velodrome on 1 October.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber welcomed the confirmation of the 2023 RWC match dates and venues and said it will now give more direction in their advance planning for France.

"Friday's announcement is a very important milestone in our planning phase for the 2023 Rugby World Cup," Nienaber said in a press statement.

"With the match dates and venues now confirmed, the coaching and management staff have a very clear idea of the overall squad preparations and logistics. For instance, the schedule gives clarity on the number of turnaround days between matches, which in turn will influence our player welfare strategy for the squad.

"And because the game venues have been allocated, it means we can kick on with more intense planning around our logistic operations for items such as team base camps."

In Scotland and Ireland, the Springboks face two of world rugby's most formidable teams in the space of 13 days in the group phase, however, Nienaber cautioned that every match would be vital in the preliminary stage.

"Like I said at the time of the draw, to be in the same pool as Ireland and Scotland will be a massive challenge, but to win the tournament, you have to be able to beat all the teams and we will be properly tested in the pool phases," added the Springbok coach.

"The margin for error at any stage of the RWC is very small, so we will plan for every scenario, including a very tough last pools game against an Asian-Pacific qualifier which might be one of Samoa or Tonga."

The 2023 World Cup starts on Friday, 8 September and the final is scheduled for Saturday, 28 October 2023 in the French capital of Paris.

Match schedule for the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be staged in France which was released on Friday:

Pool A

New Zealand, France, Italy, America 1 zone qualifier, Africa 1 zone qualifier:

Sept 8: Stade de France - France v New Zealand

Sept 9: Saint-Etienne - Italy v Africa 1

Sept 14: Lille - France v America 1

Sept 15: Toulouse - New Zealand v Africa 1

Sept 20: Nice - Italy v America 1

Sept 21: Marseille - France v Africa 1

Sept 27: Lyon - America 1 v Africa 1

Sept 29: Lyon - New Zealand v Italy

Oct 05: Lyon - New Zealand v America 1

Oct 06: Lyon - France v Italy

Pool B

South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia/Pacific 1 zone qualifier, Europe 2 zone qualifier

Sept 9: Bordeaux - Ireland v Europe 2

Sept 10: Marseille - South Africa v Scotland

Sept 16: Nantes - Ireland v Asia/Pacific 1

Sept 17: Bordeaux - South Africa v Europe 2

Sept 23: Stade de France - South Africa v Ireland

Sept 24: Nice - Scotland v Asia/Pacific 1

Sept 30: Lille - Scotland v Europe 2

Oct 01: Marseille - South Africa v Asia/Pacific 1

Oct 07: Stade de France - Ireland v Scotland

Oct 08: Lille - Asia/Pacific 1 v Europe 2

Pool C

Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1 zone qualifier, Winner final qualifying round

Sept 09: Saint-Denis - Australia - Europe 1

Sept 10: Bordeaux - Wales v Fiji

Sept 16: Nice - Wales v Winner final qualifying round

Sept 17: Saint-Etienne - Australia v Fiji

Sept 23: Toulouse - Europe 1 v Winner final qualifying round

Sept 24: Lyon - Wales v Australia

Sept 30: Bordeaux - Fiji v Europe 1

Oct 01: Saint-Etienne - Australia v - Winner final qualifying round

Oct 07: Nantes - Wales v Europe 1

Oct 08: Toulouse - Fiji v Winner final qualifying round

Pool D

England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania zone 1 qualifier, America zone 2 qualifier

Sept 09: Marseille - England v Argentina

Sept 10: Toulouse - Japan v America 2

Sept 16: Bordeaux - Oceania 1 v America 2

Sept 17: Nice - England v Japan

Sept 22: Saint-Etienne - Argentina v Oceania 1

Sept 23: Lille - England v America 2

Sept 28: Toulouse - Japan v Oceania 1

Sept 30: Nantes - Argentina v America 2

Oct 07: Lille - England v Oceania 1

Oct 08: Nantes - Japan v Argentina

Quarter-finals

Oct 14: Marseille - Pool C winner v Pool D runner-up

Oct 14: Stade de France - Pool B winner v Pool A runner-up

Oct 15: Marseille - Pool D v Pool C runner-up

Oct 15: Stade de France - Pool A winner v Pool B runner-up

Semi-finals

Oct 20: Stade de France - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2

Oct 21: Stade de France - Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4

3rd place play-off

Oct 27: Stade de France

Final

Oct 28: Stade de France

Source: News24