Springboks challenge for Scots at World Cup

SCOTLAND will begin rugby’s 2023 World Cup against defending champions South Africa in Marseille, while England will take on Argentina in the same city a day earlier.

Both matches will be played at the Stade Velodrome, England’s on Saturday, September 9 and Scotland’s on Sunday, September 10.

Scotland’s following match is two weeks later on Sunday September 24 in Nice against the Asia/Pacific 1 qualifier, before they go on to face the Europe 2 qualified team in Lille on Saturday September 30.

Scotland will complete their Pool B fixtures in Paris, where they will face Ireland at the Stade de France on Saturday, October 7, the teams having met only once before in the tournament, in 2019 in Japan.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, pictured, said: “It’s great to have the fixtures announced, meaning that the tournament is edging closer.

“It doesn’t get any more exciting than facing the world champions in your opening game, but it is an opportunity I know our players will be keen to embrace.

“I’ve no doubt our fans, and players, will also relish the chance to be part of matches in some impressive stadiums across France.

“We of course played Ireland at the last Rugby World Cup and the two sides know each other pretty well from our

Guinness Six Nations encounters.”

Hosts France will face threetime winners New Zealand in a tantalising opening match of the tournament at the Stade de France in Paris on September 8.

After their Pool D opener against Los Pumas, Eddie Jones’ 2019 runners-up England will take on Japan in Nice on September 17 before back-to-back games in Lille against qualifiers from the Americas and Oceania on September 23 and October 7 respectively. Wales, meanwhile, begin their Pool C campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10 and take on twotime champions Australia in Lyon a fortnight later.

Ireland’s quest to progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time also starts in Bordeaux, where they will play a European qualifier on September 9.

Andy Farrell’s men face the Springboks in Paris on September 23 and will then return to the Stade de France to complete their Pool B games against rivals Scotland.

Games will be played at nine venues across France.

The final – scheduled for Saturday, October 28 – the thirdplaced play-off, both semi-finals and two of the quarter-finals will be staged at the Stade de France.

Marseille will host the other two last-eight fixtures.

Meanwhile in the Guinness Six Nations this weekend Wales, who beat Scotland in a Murrayfield thriller two weeks ago, play host to England, while Ireland will look for their first win of the competition so far when they travel to Italy.