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Confirmed: Definitive list of the 38 Test matches on road to World Cup

(Photo by David Ramos/World Rugby via Getty Images)

World Rugby have confirmed the full schedule of preparation matches leading into Rugby World Cup 2023. The plan features 38 Test and six non-Test matches that will for the first time see all teams outside of the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship having a minimum of three high-quality preparation matches before the tournament gets underway in France in September.

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Having invested more than £4million in RWC 2023 preparations for its performance unions, the game’s global governing body has provided what it describes as “significant financial and technical support” for RWC-qualified teams outside of the two annual top-tier tournaments.

One example is Samoa, the Pacific Islanders who have been drawn in Pool D at the finals where they will meet Chile, Argentina, Japan and England from September 16 to October 7. Their warm-up schedule will see them take on Japan in Sapporo on July 22, Fiji in Apia on July 29, Tonga in Apia on August 5 and then Ireland in Bayonne on August 26.

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Another example is Georgia, the Eastern European who will encounter Australia, Portugal, Fiji and Wales in Pool C from September 9 to October 7. Their list of warm-up fixtures begins versus Romania in Tbilisi on August 12 and also includes an August 19 meeting with the USA at a venue to be confirmed and then an August 26 clash with Scotland in Edinburgh.

The full list of preparation matches kicks off on July 8 in Tokyo when a Japan XV hosts an All Blacks XV in a non-Test cap game and culminates on August 27 when World Cup hosts France take on Australia in the final warm-up before the tournament commences on September 8 with the French up against the All Blacks in match one at Stade de France.

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A statement read: “At present, 38 Test fixtures will take place across the globe in a busy period for international rugby. The international federation is playing a central role in coordinating the schedule of fixtures to provide each of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualified teams with the best-possible preparation environment for the biggest event in men’s test rugby.

“In line with its commitment to grow the game globally, World Rugby has also put significant investment behind teams outside of The Rugby Championship and Six Nations to provide meaningful opposition to assist with Rugby World Cup preparations and beyond.

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“Highlights include Argentina playing Spain in Madrid and Samoa facing Ireland in Bayonne on August 26, while the USA – who fell short of qualifying for France 2023 – will travel to Europe to face Romania, Portugal and Georgia.”

World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “World Rugby exists to make the game better, more accessible and relevant for everyone. Our commitment to support the high-performance programmes of our performance unions with significant investment and coordination expertise reflects that ambition.

“This schedule of international fixtures is the culmination of a lot of collaboration and hard work between our high-performance staff and all our member unions.

“We anticipate that France 2023 will be the most compelling of all men’s Rugby World Cups. Chile are taking part in their first Rugby World Cup ever, Portugal their second after 2007, and the top of the World Rugby men’s rankings powered by Capgemini has never been so competitive.

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“The preparation matches will give fans a foretaste of Rugby World Cup 2023 while providing match officials with great opportunities to perform ahead of rugby’s showcase event.”

Having last week named its list of 12 referees for the finals in France, World Rugby have now also unveiled its match official appointments for all the international fixtures taking place in July and August.

  • Click here for The Rugby Championship fixtures and match official appointments; 
  • Click here for the remaining July and August matches and match official appointments.
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J
JW 20 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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