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The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets underway on Friday with a blockbuster fixture between hosts France and tournament favourites New Zealand.
It is the third time rugby union’s flagship international event is taking place in France, which also staged the competition in 2007 and co-hosted the tournament in 1991. This time round, the country fended off competition from South Africa and Ireland to secure hosting rights to the tournament, which is being played at venues across nine cities.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup, which marks 200 years since William Webb Ellis is credited with inventing the game, will also be the longest edition of the tournament ever after World Rugby agreed to new player welfare measures which ensure that each team will have at least five days between games.
All told, the event is projected to generate some €457 million for the sport’s global governing body and organisers are optimistic that viewership for the tournament will eclipse the 857 million people who watched the 2019 edition in Japan. Almost 2.5 million tickets had already been sold by the end of May and France is expecting to welcome 600,000 international visitors over the course of the seven-week competition.
With the teams finalising their preparations for kick-off, SportsPro provides a commercial breakdown of every nation competing at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as well as the tournament sponsors, broadcasters and venues.
Pool A
New Zealand
World ranking: 2nd
Federation chief executive: Mark Robinson
Federation revenue: NZ$270.8 million (US$160.6 million) for 2022
Kit supplier: Adidas (Extension in 2017 valued at NZ$10 million a year, first signed in 1999, multi-year extension signed in 2023)
Main partner: Altrad (Reportedly valued at NZ$120 million, six-year deal signed in 2021)
Other partners: Ineos, Taisho Pharmaceutical, SAP, Tudor, Replay, Healthspan Elite, Steinlager, Ford, ASB Bank, Weet-Bix, Jockey, Air New Zealand, Ryman Healthcare, Powerade, Nissui, Rexona, Hyperice, WattBike, STATSports, Robert Walters, Cadbury, Uber, Groov
The All Blacks are among the favourites to win the tournament
France
World ranking: 4th
Federation president: Florian Grill
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Le Coq Sportif (Signed in 2017, expires 2024)
Main partner: Altrad (Reportedly valued at €35 million, signed in 2018, expires in 2023)
Other partners: GMF, Societe Generale, Orange, Renault, La Poste, ParionsSport, Casino, TCL, Century 21, Manpower, Eden Park, RATP, Gilbert, Sanit-Yorre, Eurest, Rhino France, Puressentiel, Gedimat, Lustucru, SAS, Vueling
Italy
World ranking: 13th
Federation president: Marzo Innocenti
Federation revenue: €74 million (US$80.1 million) for 2021
Kit supplier: Macron (Signed in 2017, expires in 2025)
Main partner: Vittoria Assicurazioni (Signed 2022, expires 2026)
Other partners: Frecciarossa, Suzuki, Peroni, FastWeb, Pam Panorama, Puressentiel, Bottega del Sarto, Gilbert, Face to Face Style, Uliveto, Universita Telematica Unimarconi, Portobello, NH Hotel Group, RDS, KingsBox, Aramis Rugby, Keforma, GTZ Medical, Atleticom, Rossi Bus
Uruguay
World ranking: 17th
Federation president: James Slinger
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Flash (multi-year deal signed in 2019)
Main partner: Antel (multi-year deal signed in 2014)
Other partners: Universidad de Montevideo, Nissan, BSE, Megalabs, Be Parklife, Alimentos Centenario, Dominion, Bragard, Nobilis, UCM Falck, Banco Republica, Divino, Los Nietitos, Vector Seguridad Privada, Farmashop, INAC, INCA, BlueCross & BlueShield de Uruguay, Universal Assistance, FunTour, Zillertal, Tienda Inglesa, Gatorade, Freixenet, QP
Namibia
World ranking: 21st
Federation chief executive: John Heynes
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: BLK
Main partner: Windhoek Draught
Other partners: JSB Sports Betting, Pubkewitz Nissan
Pool B
South Africa
World ranking: 3rd
Federation interim chief executive: Rian Oberholzer
Federation revenue: ZAR1.54 billion (US$81 million) for 2022
Kit supplier: Nike (Six-year deal signed in 2022, expires in 2025)
Main partner: MTN (Original deal reportedly valued between ZAR40 million and ZAR 50 million per year, first signed in 2017, extension signed in 2021, expires in 2025)
Other partners: AfriSam, Aldo, Betway, Cadbury, Castle Lager, Dell Technologies. Dettol, Dove, Energade, Engen, First National Bank, FlySafair, Freddy Hirsch, Gilbert Rugby, Hyperice, Klipdrift, Leuko, McDonalds, Oppo, OUTsurance, Qatar Airways, Southern Sun, Spur, Springbok Atlas, Switch, Thirsti, Toyota, Vodacom, We Buy Cars
Defending world champions South Africa are sponsored by the likes of Nike and MTN
Ireland
World ranking: 1st
Federation chief executive: Kevin Potts
Federation revenue: €116 million (US$127 million) for 2021/22
Kit supplier: Canterbury (Reportedly valued at €4 million per year, first signed in 2014, extension signed in 2020, expires in 2024)
Main partner: Vodafone (Reportedly valued at €4 million a year, first signed in 2016, extension signed in 2019, expires in 2024)
Other partners: 3FE, Aer Lingus, Aldi, Aon, Aviva, Ballygowan, Bank of Ireland, DHL, Dove Men+Care, Eden Park, Energia, Guinness, Kroll, Lucozade Sport, Opel, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Sport Ireland, Tipperary Crystal, TritonLake, Vivomed
Scotland
World ranking: 5th
Federation chief executive: Mark Dodson
Federation revenue: UK£57.9 million (US$73.7 million) for 2021/22
Kit supplier: Macron (Reportedly worth ‘a seven-figure sum’ per year, first signed in 2013, extensions signed in 2016 and 2019, expires in 2026)
Main partner: Peter Vardy (Reportedly valued at ‘close to’ UK£1.5 million a year, first signed in 2021, expires in 2025)
Other partners: A.G Barr, BT, Cashback 4 Communities, Destination Sport, Dove Men+Care, Edinburgh Gin, Fairways, Fosroc, Gilbert Rugby, Guinness, iPro Hydrate, Royal Bank of Scotland, Royal Marines, Saltire Energy, Scottish Gas, SmilePlus Dental Care, Spire Murrayfield Hospital, SportsScotland, Tennent’s Lager, Walker Slater
Tonga
World ranking: 15th
Federation chief executive: Peter Harding
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Force XV
Main partner: IBSA (Multi-year deal signed in 2019)
Other partners: Fexco, No1 Currency, Pacific Aus Sports, Onward Athletics
Romania
World ranking: 19th
Federation president: Alin Petrache
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Macron (First signed in 2021, expires in 2023)
Main partner: Kaufland (Signed in 2023)
Other partners: Borsec, CEC Bank, Cocorico, Dr Leahu, Eisberg, Gilbert Rugby, Groupama, Orange, Regenera Activa, Rosilva, Shop Glocal
Pool C
Wales
World ranking: 9th
Federation chief executive: Abi Tierney
Federation revenue: UK£94.3 million (2021/22)
Kit supplier: Macron (Reportedly valued at UK£4.4 million a year, signed in 2020, expires in 2027)
Main partner: Vodafone (Multi-year deal signed in 2023)
Other partners: Admiral, Amber, Britvic, The Celtic Collection, Castle Howell, Dove, Events International, Gilbert, Glamorgan Brewing, Go.Compare, Guinness, Heineken, Hopkins, Indigo Group, Isuzu, Nocco, Opro, Papa Johns, Princes Gate, Principality, Rhino, Seat Unique, Sinclair Mercedes, Sportseen, Ticketmaster, TotalEnergies
Australia
World ranking: 8th
Federation chief executive: Phil Waugh
Federation revenue: AUS$129.2 million (2022)
Kit supplier: Asics (First signed in 2014, extension signed in 2018, expires in 2025)
Main partner: Cadbury (Reportedly ‘worth more in cash’ than previous sponsor Qantas’ AUS$5 million-per-year deal, signed in 2021, expires 2026)
Other partners: Bet365, Corpay, Defender, Destination NSW, Enforcer, Etoro, Gilbert, InterContinental Hotels Group, Mitsubishi Estate, MJ Bale, PTP, RM Williams, Santos, STH Group, Taylors Wines, Visit Victoria
Fiji
World ranking: 10th
Federation interim chief executive: Tevita Tuiloa
Federation revenue: FJ$21.4 million (2022)
Kit supplier: Nike (Signed in 2021, expires in 2024)
Main partner: Fiji Airways (Five-year deal first signed in 2017)
Other partners: ANZ, Coca-Cola, Elastoplast, Fiji Gas, FijiKava, Fiji Sun, Fiji Water, Gilbert, Jack’s of Fiji, PacificAus Sports, Rooster, Royal Tea, Skipper Tuna, Subrails, Tropik Wood, Tuivt.com, Vision Motors, Victoria Wines, Vodafone, Weet-Bix
Georgia
World ranking: 11th
Federation president: Ioseb Tkemaladze
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Macron (Five-year deal signed in 2021)
Main partner: Borjomi
Other partners: TBC Bank
Portugal
World ranking: 16th
Federation president: Carlos Amada da Silva
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Macron (First signed in 2016)
Main partner: Santander
Other partners: Axians, Cartrack, Cosmos Viagens, Gilbert, Jogos Santa Casa
Pool D
England
World ranking: 6th
Federation chief executive: Bill Sweeney
Federation revenue: UK£189.1 million (2021/22)
Kit supplier: Umbro (Reportedly valued at ‘more than’ UK£5 million a year, first signed in 2020, extension signed in 2021, expires in 2028)
Main partner: O2 (Reportedly valued at ‘more than’ UK£7.5 million a year, first signed in 1995, extension signed in 2020, expires in 2026)
Other partners: Adidas, Allianz, Bollinger, British Airways, Britvic, CBRE, Charles Tyrwhitt, Continental, Dove Men+Care, Gilbert, Guinness, Honda, Irwin Mitchell, Papa Johns, Pozitive Energy, Red Bull, Rhino, Simply Health
Japan
World ranking: 14th
Federation president: Masato Tsuchida
Federation revenue: J¥7.06 billion (US$48.2 million) for 2022
Kit supplier: Canterbury
Main partner: Taisho (Multi-year deal signed in 2020)
Other partners: Toshiba, SMBC, SECOM, Mitsubishi Estate, Hitocom, Canon, Asahi, JTB, Toppan, Kashiyama, Mastercard, Regza, Japan Airlines, Gilbert, Savas, Hinomaru
Argentina
World ranking: 7th
Federation president: Gabriel Travaglini
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Nike (First signed in 2012, extension signed in 2022)
Main partner: Visa (First signed in 1996)
Other partners: Burger King, Cerveza Imperial, Deloitte, Ecosan, ENA, Ford, Gatorade, Gilbert, Medicu, Opro, SMS, SportClub, Universidad Siglio, YPF, Zurich
Samoa
World ranking: 12th
Federation chief executive: Vincent Fepuleai
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Macron (Signed in 2023, expires in 2029)
Main partner: Samoa International Business Finance Centre (Signed in 2022)
Other partners: Gilbert Rugby, Hytro, Pacific Aus Sports, Samoa Travel, SCB, Taula, Taxi, Vodafone, Yazaki
Chile will be the first new team to feature at a Rugby World Cup since 2011
Chile
World ranking: 22nd
Federation president: Francisco Davanzo Pumarino
Federation revenue: Not published
Kit supplier: Umbro (Multi-year deal signed in 2021)
Main partner: Banco de Chile (Signed in 2022)
Other partners: COPEC, SODIMAC, Kunstmann, Universal Assistance, Burger King, Fernet Branca, Energy Club
The venues
Stade de Bordeaux 
Location: Bordeaux
Capacity: 42,060
Opened: 2015
Games: Five pool games
Stade Pierre Mauroy
Location: Lille
Capacity: 50,096
Opened: 2012
Games: Five pool games
Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Location: Lyon
Capacity: 58,883
Opened: 2016
Games: Five pool games
Stade Vélodrome
Location: Marseille
Capacity: 67,847
Opened: 1937
Games: Four pool games, two quarter-finals
Stade de la Beaujoire
Location: Nantes
Capacity: 35,520
Opened: 1984
Games: Four pool games
Stade de Nice
Location: Nice
Capacity: 35,983
Opened: 2013
Games: Four pool games
Stade de France
Location: Paris
Capacity: 80,023
Opened: 1998
Games: Four pool games, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, third-place match, final
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Location: Saint-Étienne
Capacity: 41,965
Opened: 1931
Games: Four pool games
Stadium de Toulouse
Location: Toulouse
Capacity: 33,103
Opened: 1937
Games: Five pool games
