What Makes the 2023 Rugby World Cup Special?

All rugby fans around the world have their eyes on France this fall, the host country of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The top rugby teams are in the process of deciding which one of them will bear the title of the World Champion for the next four years. This is the 10th edition of the event, gathering teams from all over the world. Or better said, not quite all over – this is one of the reasons why this year’s World Cup is special.

No major North American teams

Canada may not feel like a major rugby nation in the world. Indeed, it is currently the 23rd in the World Rugby men’s ranks. Still, the country’s national rugby team has participated in every Rugby World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1987. But not this year.

Another notable absence is the US – for the first time since 1995, the Eagles are missing from the World Cup.

Three South American teams

This is the first edition of the Rugby World Cup with three South American teams qualified.

Argentina was present at 9 out of the 10 editions of the World Cup so far, finishing third in 2007 and fourth in 2015. In 2019, it was eliminated in the Pool Stage.

Los Cóndores, or the Chilean national rugby team, is at its first entry to the tournament. It was not invited to the first edition in 1987 and didn’t qualify for any other edition – until this year. A look at the Rugby World Cup 2023 betting odds will tell you that it has a very slim chance of advancing beyond the Pool Stage (it currently sits at the bottom of Pool D, with England and Japan leading).

The Uruguay national rugby team is somewhere in between: it has qualified for five of the ten Rugby World Cup editions so far but never advanced past the Pool Stage. It is in Pool D, along with France and New Zealand, and it’s currently the fourth.

A celebration of togetherness

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont called the 2023 Rugby World Cup a “celebration of togetherness”. This is because of the incredible support it has received from all over the world. This year, a record number of over 600,000 rugby fans from around the globe are expected to attend the event. The Irish national team – currently the #1 team in the World Rugby rankings – was greeted by a staggering 12,000 fans when they arrived in Tours.

Final words

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is a truly special event for rugby enthusiasts worldwide. As the rugby world converges on France, the absence of major North American teams adds a unique twist to this edition. Meanwhile, the inclusion of three South American teams, including newcomers Chile, brings fresh energy to the tournament.

With an unprecedented number of fans expected to attend, the global rugby community is coming together to support their teams. As the world’s top rugby teams battle for the title, it’s clear that the 2023 Rugby World Cup is more than just a sporting event; it’s a celebration of the unity and camaraderie that rugby fosters among nations.