Scotland learn Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures

Scotland will kick-off its Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign with a tie against current world champions South Africa in Pool B of the competition.

The Springboks are first up for Gregor Townsend’s men in Marseille on Sunday 10 September 2023, the sides having previously met in the competition in 1999 and again in 2015.

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

Scotland will complete their Pool B fixtures in Paris, where they will face Ireland at the Stade de France on Saturday 7 October, the pair having only faced one another once before in the tournament, at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, 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, which all adds to the World Cup experience.

“We of course played Ireland at the last Rugby World Cup in Japan and the two sides know each other pretty well from our Guinness Six Nations encounters.

“Whoever qualifies for the remaining two spots in Pool B will have quality and we know that to win World Cup matches you have to be playing your best rugby throughout the duration of the competition.”

Rugby World Cup 2023

Scotland’s Pool B fixtures:

v South Africa, Sunday 10 September Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

v Asia/Pacific 1, Sunday 24 September Stade de Nice, Nice

v Europe 2, Saturday 30 September Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

v Ireland, Saturday 7 October Stade de France, Saint-Denis