The Most Stunning Venues at the Rugby World Cup 2023
The Rugby World Cup 2023 action has begun, with each and every game being hosted in France this year. Nine different venues will be used to host all of the fixtures that take place within the tournament, all of which are primarily used to host footballing action.
The range of stadiums offers a mix of traditional designs and contemporary arenas, as well as huge capacities across the board. But which of these World Cup venues is the best?
Stade de France
The Stade de France is undoubtedly the most impressive sporting arena in the nation. It can host a remarkable 80,023 spectators, which means it comfortably has the highest capacity.
Due to its ability to host the most fans and its central location, the stadium will host both semi-finals, the bronze final and the grand final at the World Cup. Les Bleus are seen as the favourites to achieve glory in the final at the Stade de France. In Rugby World Cup 2023 odds, they are offered at 13/5 to win the competition for the first time.
The strongest opposition to France’s potential home triumph is South Africa. In rugby betting, the Springboks are offered at 11/4 to win their fourth Rugby World Cup.
Rugby World Cup:SIS Pitches completed the pitch for the final @ Stade de France!
Installation of a new natural grass pitch followed by SISGrass stitching provides the extra stability needed during major sporting events.
France V New Zealand open the RWC tonight @ Stade de France. pic.twitter.com/1IW9wVPXCz— SIS Pitches Ireland (@ireland_sis) September 8, 2023
The Stade de France was initially built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where the French football team succeeded on home soil. Now it could be time for the French rugby team to conquer the world. The stadium would be a fitting location for France to lift the trophy; they play their home national team games there and a huge amount of fans would be present to witness the glorious scenes.
The Stade de France is simply the greatest arena on French soil. It has a traditional oval-shaped style that has become commonplace among most European national stadiums. Its relatively modern construction means its interior is of a much greater quality than comparable older venues.
Stade de Marseille
The Stade de Marseille, otherwise known as the Orange Velodrome, is France’s offering of a contemporary, or perhaps even futuristic stadium design. The stadium originally opened in the 1930s with a typical oval design on the roof.
The venue that will host many games at the Rugby World Cup has undergone significant changes throughout its history. The stadium’s numerous stands have been raised, with the roof having been altered into a white textured aesthetic which partially covers the pitch. This helps to contain and amplify the roaring atmosphere the passionate fans create.
Tonight’s stage: Stade de Marseille 🙌🌹#ENGvARG | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/DHRwPqD14t
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) September 9, 2023
The Marseille venue can accommodate around 67,000 fans for the tournament this year. It will have hosted four pool matches by the time the initial stage is over, as well as two of the four quarter-finals at the competition.
These stadiums are certainly the top two sporting venues located in France. Interestingly, The Stade de France offers a traditional aesthetic but is just 25 years old, whereas the Stade de Marseille is nearly 100 years old but now boasts a contemporary design.
French stadiums old and new are all stunning locations to capture the Rugby World Cup action of 2023. These two are the pick of the bunch, but all of the stadiums are significant within the nation’s sporting history.