This is the first major meeting on the road leading to the 2023 World Cup, organized by France.
This Monday, at 12:30 p.m., at the Palais Brongniart (Paris), the draw for the pools for this 10th edition of the global competition will take place, in the presence of the President of the Republic.
"It's a great honor," says Figaro Claude Atcher, CEO of the organizing committee for the 2023 World Cup. Emmanuel Macron will welcome the whole world, in the tradition of French hospitality.
"
Other distinguished guests will also be present.
"To go beyond the framework of sport, we have chosen French personalities representing parts of our culture to shoot the balls", continues Claude Atcher.
These prestigious ambassadors, six in number, will be photographer Yann Artus-Bertrand, actor Jean Dujardin, fashion designer Christian Louboutin, Paris Opera star dancer Anne Renavand, starred chef Guy Savoye and the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte.
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Rugby World Cup 2023: the user manual for the draw
In a more than gloomy climate, due to the pandemic, this moment takes on special significance.
"This draw is a ray of hope and a much anticipated burst of enthusiasm," said the Englishman Bill Beaumont, president of World Rugby.
It will take place under the eyes of a very special guest: the Webb Ellis trophy, awarded every four years to the sacred team.
For a year, this cup was in South Africa, winner of the Japanese edition last year.
She arrived in France last Wednesday, "her residence until 2023, even if she will travel to other countries to promote the World Cup", details Claude Atcher.
The verdict of the draw is obviously eagerly awaited.
First of all by the XV of France, which is not one of the four seeds.
For this, the Blues had to go back to 4th place in the ranking of nations.
Mission carried out by coach Fabien Galthié and his promising new Blues.
In vain.
The pandemic having upset the international calendar, deleted many matches, World Rugby finally decided to base itself on the ranking of January 1, 2020, France then appearing in 7th place.
The seeds will therefore be South Africa, New Zealand, England and Wales.
With the prospect, for the XV of France, to collect a big chunk in his hen.
“It's a little regret, agrees the CEO of the organizing committee.
But I prefer to paraphrase Bernard Laporte: “If you want to be world champion, you have to beat everyone.”
I would add that if we were to face the All Blacks in the group stage, we would not find them again before the final… "
Sponsors at the rendezvous
Twenty teams will participate in this second World Cup organized in France, after that of 2007. Twelve are already known to have automatically qualified by finishing in the three best places of the four pools of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
In addition to the four seeds, we find France, Ireland, Australia and Japan in hat 2;
Scotland, Argentina, Fiji and Italy in cap 3. Eight tickets remain to be allocated over the next two years.
Two qualifiers will come from Europe, two from the Americas, one from Oceania, one from Africa and one from the Asia-Pacific region.
A final qualifying tournament, in which four failures will participate in November 2022, will award the ultimate sesame.
"With a commitment to fairness in terms of entertainment: that each city can host great matches"
Claude atcher
The kickoff of the competition will be given on September 8, 2023 (by the XV of France) at the Stade de France.
Where the final will be played on October 21, 2023, the last of 48 matches played in nine stadiums.
The schedule for all these matches will be unveiled in February 2021. "With a commitment to fairness in terms of entertainment: that each city can host great matches", underlines Claude Atcher.
The ticket office will be based on the double principle of “accessibility and prestige, with first prices at 15 euros”.
It should be noted that the English have already rushed to the presale ... Another good news, the pandemic has not damaged the attractiveness for sponsors.
The eight major partners, all French companies, have already made a commitment (five have already been unveiled - Vivendi, SNCF, Société Générale, Loxam, Proman - the last three will be announced at the start of the year).
And five of the eight Tier 2 partners have also signed.
Some of the success of this event which will benefit the organizing country, with a minimum of 2 billion euros in economic benefits.
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Rugby World Cup 2023: how to use the draw
