 Excitement is building ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup 2023, which kicks-off in France this Friday. The talented hosts, who entertain New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening, start the tournament as favourites but will face strong competition from Andy Farrell's world number one side Ireland, who claimed the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year. Defending champions South Africa, who beat England in the final in Yokohama four years ago, are eyeing back-to-back titles and are in confident mood having recorded their biggest-ever victory over the All Black in a World Cup warm-up game at Twickenham last month. As for England, Steve Borthwick's men are in a state of disarray after a disastrous 2023 calendar year which saw them finish fourth in the Six Nations back in the spring. Their tournament preparations have been further plunged into chaos with Owen Farrell set to miss the opening two games of the World Cup, with Billy Vunipola also set to miss the first one, after the pair were handed bans for high tackles committed in the official warm-up games. Here is everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023. Who are in England's group? The teams taking part have been split into four pools of five teams, with the top two from each group progressing to the quarter-finals. England have been drawn in Pool D alongside Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Chile. Rugby World Cup 2023 pools Pool A New Zealand France Italy Uruguay Namibia Pool B South Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga Romania Pool C Wales Australia Fiji Georgia Portugal Pool D England Japan Argentina Samoa Chile Rugby World Cup fixtures and schedule Friday, September 8 France vs New Zealand (8.15pm, Paris) Saturday, September 9 Italy vs Namibia (12pm, Saint-Etienne) Ireland vs Romania (2.30pm, Bordeaux) Australia vs Georgia (5pm, Paris) England vs Argentina (8pm, Marseille) Su){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Excitement is building ahead of the start of the Rugby World Cup 2023, which kicks-off in France this Friday.
The talented hosts, who entertain New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening, start the tournament as favourites but will face strong competition from Andy Farrell’s world number one side Ireland, who claimed the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year.
Defending champions South Africa, who beat England in the final in Yokohama four years ago, are eyeing back-to-back titles and are in confident mood having recorded their biggest-ever victory over the All Black in a World Cup warm-up game at Twickenham last month.
As for England, Steve Borthwick’s men are in a state of disarray after a disastrous 2023 calendar year which saw them finish fourth in the Six Nations back in the spring.