Host France started the Rugby World Cup with a bang in front of 80,000 fans at the Stade de France. Les Tricolores defeated three-time world champions New Zealand in the top game of Group A after being 9:13 behind with 27:13 (9:8). President Emanuel Macron had previously opened the XXL tournament, accompanied by a few whistles, which is also seen as a kind of test run for the 2024 Summer Olympics on the Seine.
20 teams will compete at the World Cup, divided into four groups of five. After the preliminary round, the teams in first and second place qualify for the quarter-finals. Over 2.5 million tickets have been sold so far for this year’s tournament, which only ends on October 28th with the final at the Stade de France. Defending champions South Africa enter the tournament on Sunday against Scotland.
Published/Updated: Recommendations: 6 Pirmin Clossé, Carcassonne Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 8 Pirmin Clossé, Mainz Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 4
