Ireland will open their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in Bordeaux followed by a game in Nantes before finishing with two pool games in Paris.
World Rugby has revealed the full schedule of fixtures for the 2023 tournament in France.
Ireland will start with a game against a European qualifier on September 9th in Bordeaux before a fixture against the Asia / Pacific 1 qualifier in Nantes a week later.
The toughest test will be against World Champions South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris on September 23rd and the pool ends with a game against Scotland at the same venue on October 7th.
Ireland have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup and failed to get out the pool in 2007, the last time France hosted the tournament.
#RWC2023
Bordeaux, Nantes & Paris - here's our @rugbyworldcup fixture list.
More: https://t.co/2mVUkTCnyQ#TeamOfUs #ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/LQXhZp3Ylm— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 26, 2021
Hosts France will take on three-time winners New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at the Stade de France on September 8th.
World Rugby Chairman, Bill Beaumont said: "The match schedule announcement is the moment when the tournament truly comes alive for fans all around the world and is an exciting milestone on the road to Rugby World Cup France 2023.
"It has been developed with teams and fans at heart and we are confident it will provide the best possible platform for a thrilling, historic and very special Rugby World Cup in the sport’s 200th year.
"I would like to thank our friends at the France 2023 Organising Committee for their efforts in building the most fair and equitable RWC match schedule ever. I know I speak for fans around the world when I say that 2023 cannot come fast enough."
World Rugby Vice-Chairman, Bernard Laporte added: "The match schedule announcement is a wonderful moment for all Rugby World Cup 2023’s stakeholders.
"It has everything: the world’s 20 best teams, 48 games and 51 days of celebration. Designed with players and fans at heart, this match schedule will delight all rugby lovers around the world.
"We have given each host city the opportunity to shine with thrilling fixtures happening all over France. We look forward to 2023."
Click here to view full schedule.
