The France national rugby team have competed in every Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987. They are one of five teams who have played in the final match, having done so three times (1987, 1999 and 2011), losing and finishing second in the tournament each time. They have made it to at least the quarter-finals at every tournament.

France hosted the 2007 tournament, and co-hosted the 1991 competition with Ireland and the United Kingdom. They also hosted some matches of the 1999 event, where the main host was Wales. France will host again in 2023.

By position

Rugby World Cup record
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Squad	Head coach
1987	Runners-up	6	4	1	1	215	113	Squad	Fouroux
1991	Quarter-finals	4	3	0	1	92	44	Squad	Dubroca
1995	Third place	6	5	0	1	184	87	Squad	Berbizier
1999	Runners-up	6	5	0	1	210	144	Squad	Skrela
2003	Fourth place	7	5	0	2	267	155	Squad	Laporte
2007	Fourth place	7	4	0	3	227	103	Squad
2011	Runners-up	7	4	0	3	159	124	Squad	Lièvremont
2015	Quarter-finals	5	3	0	2	133	125	Squad	Saint-André
2019	Quarter-finals	4	3	0	1	98	71	Squad	Brunel
2023	Quarter-finals	5	4	0	1	238	61	Squad	Galthié
Total	No title	57	40	1	16	1,823	1027	—	—
Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place *Green border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil. **Some matches of the 1999 tournament were held on home soil. Correct as of 10 November 2023

By matches

1987

Pool

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	Pts	Qualification
France	3	2	1	0	145	44	+101	25	5[a]	Knockout stage
Scotland	3	2	1	0	135	69	+66	22	5[a]
Romania	3	1	0	2	61	130	−69	6	2
Zimbabwe	3	0	0	3	53	151	−98	5	0

23 May 1987

France	20–20	Scotland
Try: Sella Berbizier Blanco Con: Blanco Pen: Blanco (2)		Try: White Duncan Pen: Hastings (4)

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Fred Howard (England)

28 May 1987

France	55–12	Romania
Try: Lagisquet (2) Charvet (2) Sella Andrieu Camberabero Erbani Laporte Con: Laporte (8) Pen: Laporte		Pen: Bezuscu (4)

Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 7,000 Referee: Bob Fordham (Australia)

2 June 1987

France	70–12	Zimbabwe
Try: Modin (3) Camberabero (3) Charvet (2) Rodriguez (2) Dubroca Estève Laporte Con: Camberabero (9)		Try: Kaulback Con: Grobler Pen: Grobler (2)

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Knock-out stage

Quarter-final

7 June 1987

Fiji	16–31	France
Try: Qoro Damu Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua (2)		Try: Rodriguez (2) Lorieux Lagisquet Con: Laporte (3) Pen: Laporte (2) Drop: Laporte

Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Clive Norling (Wales)

Semi-final

13 June 1987

Australia	24–30	France
Try: Campese Codey Con: Lynagh (2) Pen: Lynagh (3) Drop: Lynagh		Try: Lorieux Sella Lagisquet Blanco Con: Camberabero (4) Pen: Camberabero (2)

Concord Oval, Sydney Attendance: 17,768 Referee: Brian Anderson (Scotland)

Final

20 June 1987

New Zealand	29–9	France
Try: Jones Kirk Kirwan Con: Fox Pen: Fox (4) Drop: Fox		Try: Berbizier Con: Camberabero Pen: Camberabero

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 46,000 Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia)

1991

Pool

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	0	82	25	+57	6
Canada	3	2	0	1	45	33	+12	4
Romania	3	1	0	2	31	64	−33	2
Fiji	3	0	0	3	27	63	−36	0

4 October 1991

France	30–3	Romania
Try: Roumat Lafond Penalty try Saint-André Con: Camberabero Pen: Camberabero (4)		Pen: Nichitean

Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers Referee: Les Peard (Wales)

8 October 1991

France	33–9	Fiji
Try: Lafond (3) Sella (2) Camberabero Con: Camberabero (3) Pen: Camberabero		Try: Naruma Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua

Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

13 October 1991

France	19–13	Canada
Try: Lafond Saint-André Con: Camberabero Pen: Lacroix (2) Camberabero		Try: Wyatt Pen: Wyatt Rees Drop: Rees

Stade Armandie, Agen Referee: Stephen Hilditch (Ireland)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

19 October 1991

France	10–19	England
Try: Lafond Pen: Lacroix (2)		Try: Underwood Carling Con: Webb Pen: Webb (3)

Parc des Princes, Paris Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

1995

Pool

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	0	114	47	+67	9
Scotland	3	2	0	1	149	27	+122	7
Tonga	3	1	0	2	44	90	−46	5
Ivory Coast	3	0	0	3	29	172	−143	3

26 May 1995

France	38–10	Tonga
Try: Lacroix (2) Hueber Saint-André Con: Lacroix (3) Pen: Lacroix (3) Drop: Delaigue		Try: Vaʻenuku Con: Tu'ipulotu Pen: Tu'ipulotu

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Steve Lander (England)

30 May 1995

France	54–18	Ivory Coast
Try: Lacroix (2) Benazzi Téchoueyres Viars Accoceberry Saint-André Costes Con: Deylaud (2) Lacroix (2) Pen: Lacroix (2)		Try: Soulama Camara Con: Kouassi Pen: Kouassi (2)

Olympia Park, Rustenburg Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Han Moon-soo (South Korea)

3 June 1995

France	22–19	Scotland
Try: Ntamack Con: Lacroix Pen: Lacroix (5)		Try: Wainwright Con: Hastings Pen: Hastings (4)

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

10 June 1995

France	36–12	Ireland
Try: Saint-André Ntamack Con: Lacroix Pen: Lacroix (8)		Pen: Elwood (4)

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

Semi-final

17 June 1995

South Africa	19–15	France
Try: Kruger Con: Stransky Pen: Stransky (4)		Pen: Lacroix (5)

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Third-place play-off

22 June 1995

France	19–9	England
Try: Roumat Ntamack Pen: Lacroix (3)		Pen: Andrew (3)

Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

1999

Pool

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
France	3	3	0	0	108	52	+56	9
Fiji	3	2	0	1	124	68	+56	7
Canada	3	1	0	2	114	82	+32	5
Namibia	3	0	0	3	42	186	−144	3

2 October 1999

France	33–20	Canada
Try: Ntamack Glas Castaignède Magne Con: Dourthe (2) Pen: Dourthe (3)		Try: Williams (2) Con: Ross Rees Pen: Ross Rees

Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers Referee: Brian Campsall (England)

8 October 1999

France	47–13	Namibia
Try: Mola (3) Ntamack Dourthe Mignoni Bernat-Salles Con: Dourthe (4) Pen: Dourthe (3)		Try: Samuelson Con: Van Dyk Pen: Van Dyk (2)

Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Referee: Chris White (England)

16 October 1999

France	28–19	Fiji
Try: Juillet Dominici Con: Dourthe (2) Pen: Dourthe (2) Lamaison		Try: Uluinayau Con: Little Pen: Little (4)

Stadium de Toulouse Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Knock-out stage

Quarter-final

24 October 1999

France	47–26	Argentina
Try: Garbajosa (2), Bernat-Salles (2) Ntamack Con: Lamaison (5) Pen: Lamaison (4)		Try: Pichot Arbizu Con: Quesada (2) Pen: Quesada (3) F. Contepomi

Lansdowne Road, Dublin Attendance: 50,000 Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Semi-final

31 October 1999

New Zealand	31–43	France
Try: Lomu (2) Wilson Con: Mehrtens (2) Pen: Mehrtens (4)		Try: Lamaison Dominici Dourthe Bernat-Salles Con: Lamaison (4) Pen: Lamaison (3) Drop: Lamaison (2)

Twickenham Stadium, London Attendance: 75,000 Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

Final

6 November 1999

Australia	35–12	France
Try: Tune Finegan Con: Burke (2) Pen: Burke (7)		Pen: Lamaison (4)

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 74,500 Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

2003

Pool

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts	Qualification
France	4	4	0	0	204	70	+134	4	20	Quarter-finals
Scotland	4	3	0	1	102	97	+5	2	14
Fiji	4	2	0	2	98	114	−16	2	10
United States	4	1	0	3	86	125	−39	2	6
Japan	4	0	0	4	79	163	−84	0	0

11 October 2003

France	61–18	Fiji
Try: Dominici (2) Harinordoquy Jauzion (3) Ibañez Con: Michalak (4) Pen: Michalak (6)		Try: Naevo Caucaunibuca Con: Little Pen: Little (2)

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 46,795 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

18 October 2003

France	51–29	Japan
Try: Michalak Rougerie (2) Pelous Dominici Crenca Con: Michalak (5) Merceron Pen: Michalak (3)		Try: Konia Ohata Con: Kurihara (2) Pen: Kurihara (5)

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 21,309 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

25 October 2003

France	51–9	Scotland
Try: Betsen Harinordoquy Michalak Galthié Brusque Con: Michalak (3) Merceron Pen: Michalak (4) Drop: Michalak Brusque		Pen: Paterson (3)

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 78,974 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

31 October 2003

France	41–14	United States
Try: Liebenberg (3) Poux Bru Con: Merceron (2) Pen: Merceron (3) Drop: Yachvili		Try: Hercus Schubert Con: Hercus (2)

WIN Stadium, Wollongong Attendance: 17,833 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

9 November 2003

France	43–21	Ireland
Try: Magne 3' c Dominici 29' c Harinordoquy 33' c Crenca 47' c Con: Michalak (4) Pen: Michalak (5)		Try: Maggs 52' c O'Driscoll (2) 65' c, 80+2' c Con: Humphreys (3)

Telstra Dome, Melbourne Attendance: 33,134 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Semi-final

16 November 2003

France	7–24	England
Try: Betsen 10' c Con: Michalak		Pen: Wilkinson (5) Drop: Wilkinson (3) 9', 38', 58'

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,346 Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Third-place play-off

20 November 2003

New Zealand	40–13	France
Try: Jack 12' c Howlett 20' c Rokocoko 51' c Thorn 54' c Muliaina 58' c Holah m Con: MacDonald Carter (4)		Try: Elhorga 42' c Con: Yachvili Pen: Yachvili Drop: Yachvili

Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 62,712 Referee: Chris White (England)

2007

Pool

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Argentina	4	4	0	0	143	33	+110	2	18	Qualified for the quarter-finals
2	France	4	3	0	1	188	37	+151	3	15
3	Ireland	4	2	0	2	64	82	−18	1	9	Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011
4	Georgia	4	1	0	3	50	111	−61	1	5
5	Namibia	4	0	0	4	30	212	−182	0	0

7 September 2007 21:00

France	12–17	Argentina
Pen: Skrela (4/5) 7', 31', 40+', 60'	Report	Try: Corleto 27' m Pen: F. Contepomi (4/6) 5', 10', 24', 34'

Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 79,312 Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

16 September 2007 21:00

France	87–10	Namibia
Try: Heymans 7' m Marty 11' c Dusautoir 21' c Nallet (2) 32' c, 40+' c Clerc (3) 38' c, 59' c, 65' c Bonnaire 47' c Chabal (2) 49' c, 54' c Élissalde 56' c Ibañez 75' m Con: Élissalde (11/13)	Report	Try: Langenhoven 79' c Con: Losper (1/1) Drop: Wessels (1/1) 10'

Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 35,339 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

21 September 2007 21:00

France	25–3	Ireland
Try: Clerc (2) 59' m, 69' m Pen: Élissalde (5/6) 7', 18', 22', 40+', 55'	Report	Try: O'Gara (1/1) 37'

Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 80,267 Referee: Chris White (England)

30 September 2007 15:00

France	64–7	Georgia
Try: Poitrenaud 6' c Nyanga 30' c Beauxis 37' c Dominici (2) 45' m, 57' m Bruno 52' c Nallet 63' c Martin 67' m Bonnaire 80' m Con: Beauxis (5/9) Pen: Beauxis (3/3) 4', 18', 24'	Report	Try: Z. Maissuradze 72' c Con: Urjukashvili (1/1)

Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 58,695 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

6 October 2007 21:00

New Zealand	18–20	France
Try: McAlister 17' c So'oialo 63' m Con: Carter (1/1) Pen: Carter (2/2) 14', 31'	Report	Try: Dusautoir 54' c Jauzion 69' c Con: Beauxis (1/1) Élissalde (1/1) Pen: Beauxis (2/3) 40+', 46'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 71,669 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Semi-final

13 October 2007 21:00

England	14–9	France
Try: Lewsey 2' m Pen: Wilkinson (2/3) 47', 75' Drop: Wilkinson (1/4) 78'	Report	Pen: Beauxis (3/3) 8', 18', 44'

Stade de France, Saint-Denis Attendance: 80,283 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Bronze final

19 October 2007 21:00

France	10–34	Argentina
Try: Poitrenaud 69' c Con: Beauxis (1/1) Pen: Élissalde (1/1) 18'	Report	Try: F. Contepomi (2) 28' c, 77' c Hasan 32' c Aramburú 53' m Corleto 65' m Con: F. Contepomi (3/5) Pen: F. Contepomi (1/1) 21'

Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 45,958 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

2011

Pool

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	New Zealand	4	4	0	0	240	49	+191	36	4	20	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2	France	4	2	0	2	124	96	+28	13	3	11
3	Tonga	4	2	0	2	80	98	−18	7	1	9	Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4	Canada	4	1	1	2	82	168	−86	9	0	6
5	Japan	4	0	1	3	69	184	−115	8	0	2

10 September 2011 18:00

France	47–21	Japan
Try: Pierre 5' c Trinh-Duc 12' c Clerc 34' m Nallet 71' c Papé 77' c Parra 80+' m Con: Yachvili (4/6) Pen: Yachvili (3/3) 21', 28', 67'	Report	Try: Arlidge (2) 31' m, 49' c Con: Arlidge (1/2) Pen: Arlidge (3/3) 18', 40', 58'

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 28,569 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

18 September 2011 20:30

France	46–19	Canada
Try: Clerc (3) 4' c, 79' c, 80+' c Traille 64' c Con: Parra (4/4) Pen: Parra (5/6) 17', 37', 39', 40+', 48' Drop: Trinh-Duc 57'	Report	Try: Smith 7' c Con: Pritchard (1/1) Pen: Pritchard (2/4) 3', 60' Drop: Monro (2) 44', 49'

McLean Park, Napier Attendance: 14,230 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

24 September 2011 20:30

New Zealand	37–17	France
Try: Thomson 10' m Jane 17' c Dagg (2) 21', 42' c S. Williams 77' m Con: Carter (3/5) Pen: Carter (1/1) 48' Drop: Carter (1/1) 64'	Report	Try: Mermoz 54' c Trinh-Duc 76' c Con: Yachvili (2/2) Pen: Yachvili (1/1) 39'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 60,856 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

1 October 2011 18:00

France	14–19	Tonga
Try: Clerc 80+' m Pen: Yachvili (3/3) 2', 23', 50'	Report	Try: Hufanga 26' c Con: Morath (1/1) Pen: Morath (4/8) 7', 36', 67', 73'

Westpac Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 32,763 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

8 October 2011 20:30 NZDT (UTC+13)

England	12–19	France
Try: Foden 55' c Cueto 77' m Con: Wilkinson (1/2)		Try: Clerc 22' m Médard 31' m Pen: Yachvili (2/3) 11', 16' Drop: Trinh-Duc (1/1) 73'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 49,105 Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Semi-final

15 October 2011 21:00 NZDT (UTC+13)

Wales	8–9	France
Try: Phillips 58' m Pen: Hook (1/3) 8'	Report	Pen: Parra (3/3) 22', 35', 51'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 58,630 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Final

23 October 2011 21:00 NZDT (UTC+13)

France	7–8	New Zealand
Try: Dusautoir 47' c Con: Trinh-Duc (1/1)	Report	Try: Woodcock 15' m Pen: Donald (1/1) 46'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 61,079 Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

2015

Pool Stage

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Ireland	4	4	0	0	134	35	+99	16	2	18	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2	France	4	3	0	1	120	63	+57	12	2	14
3	Italy	4	2	0	2	74	88	−14	7	2	10	Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4	Romania	4	1	0	3	60	129	−69	7	0	4
5	Canada	4	0	0	4	58	131	−73	7	2	2

19 September 2015	France	32–10	Italy	Twickenham Stadium, London
23 September 2015	France	38–11	Romania	Olympic Stadium, London
1 October 2015	France	41–18	Canada	Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
11 October 2015	France	9–24	Ireland	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Quarter-final

17 October 2015 20:00 BST (UTC+01)

New Zealand	62–13	France
Try: Retallick 11' c Milner-Skudder 23' c Savea (3) 29' c, 38' m, 59' c Kaino 50' m Read 64' c Kerr-Barlow (2) 68' c, 71' c Con: Carter (7/9) 12', 25', 31', 60', 65', 68', 72' Pen: Carter (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: Picamoles 36' c Con: Parra (1/1) 37' Pen: Spedding (1/1) 9' Parra (1/2) 15'

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Attendance: 71,619 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

2019

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	England	4	3	1	0	119	20	+99	17	3	17	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2	France	4	3	1	0	79	51	+28	9	1	15
3	Argentina	4	2	0	2	106	91	+15	14	3	11	Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4	Tonga	4	1	0	3	67	105	−38	9	2	6
5	United States	4	0	0	4	52	156	−104	7	0	0

21 September 2019 16:15 JST (UTC+09)

France	23–21	Argentina (1 BP)
Try: Fickou 18' c Dupont 22' c Con: Ntamack (2/2) 19', 23' Pen: Ntamack (2/3) 30', 40+1' Drop: Lopez (1/1) 70'	Report	Try: Petti 42' c Montoya 54' m Con: Sánchez (1/2) 43' Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 15' Urdapilleta (2/2) 61', 69'

Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu Attendance: 40,004 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

2 October 2019 16:45 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) France	33–9	United States
Try: Huget 6' c Raka 24' m Fickou 67' c Serin 70' c Poirot 79' c Con: Ramos (1/2) 8' Lopez (3/3) 68', 71', 80'+1	Report	Pen: MacGinty (3/3) 19', 31', 65'

Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka Attendance: 17,660 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

6 October 2019 16:45 JST (UTC+09)

France	23–21	Tonga (1 BP)
Try: Vakatawa 6' c Raka 32' c Con: Ntamack (2/2) 7', 34' Pen: Ntamack (3/4) 4', 52', 60'	Report	Try: Takulua 40' c Hingano 47' c Kapeli 79' c Con: Takulua (2/2) 40'+1, 49' Fosita (1/1) 80'

Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto Attendance: 28,477 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

12 October 2019 17:15 JST (UTC+09)

England	0–0 (Cancelled)	France

International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Notes:

• As a result of inclement weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis this match was cancelled and awarded as a 0–0 draw.^[1]

Quarter-final

20 October 2019 16:15 JST (UTC+09)

Wales	20–19	France
Try: Wainwright 12' c Moriarty 74' c Con: Biggar (2/2) 13', 75' Pen: Biggar (2/2) 20', 54'	Report	Try: Vahaamahina 5' m Ollivon 8' c Vakatawa 31' c Con: Ntamack (2/3) 9', 32'

Ōita Stadium, Ōita Attendance: 34,426 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Hosting

The Rugby World Cup is held every four years, and tends to alternate between the northern and southern hemispheres. Every northern hemisphere tournament so far has been held in Europe, and in general, France usually hosts some games when it is held there.

1991 Rugby World Cup

England was main host in 1991, but other countries hosted some matches. France hosted Pool D, and two of the quarter-finals.

The following French stadiums were used (quarter final locations emboldened).

1999 Rugby World Cup

Wales was main host in 1999. Pool C games were hosted in France.

The following French stadiums were used (quarter-final locations in bold).

2007 Rugby World Cup

France was main host for the 2007 RWC. Some games were also held in Scotland and Wales.

It was announced in April 2003 that France had won the right to host the tournament.^[2] The tournament was moved to the proposed September–October dates with the tournament structure remaining as it was.^[2] It was also announced that ten French cities would be hosting games, with the final at the Stade de France.^[2] French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said that "this decision illustrates the qualities of our country and its capacity to host major sporting events...This World Cup will be the opportunity to showcase the regions of France where the wonderful sport of rugby is deeply rooted".^[2] French Sports Minister Jean-François Lamour said that "The organisation of this World Cup will shine over all of France because ten French towns have the privilege of organising matches and to be in the world's spotlight."^[2] French cities to host games are Bordeaux, Lens, Lyon, Marseilles, Montpellier, Nantes, St. Etienne, Toulouse and Paris, and it was also announced that the final would be at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.^[2]

There was a substantial increase in the overall capacity of stadiums compared to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, as the smallest venue at the 2007 tournament will be 33,900. France won the right to host the event in 2003. Three matches were played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, two Pool B games that featured Wales and as well as a quarter-final. Two Pool C matches were held at Edinburgh's Murrayfield. Ireland were also offered to host matches at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, but had to decline the offer as construction work was scheduled to begin on the stadium.^[3] The semifinals and final were held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

The following stadiums were used (finals locations emboldened).

2023 Rugby World Cup

France will host the Rugby World Cup outright for the second time in 2023, however, hosting for the fourth time in total.

Portrayal on screen

France can be seen playing South Africa in the feature film Invictus based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.