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When does the 2019 Rugby World Cup start?
The opening ceremony and first match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday, September 20 as nations from all across the globe compete for the Webb Ellis Cup.
Where is the tournament being held? JAPAN !
Who are the competing teams?
What is the latest RWC news?
Before the tournament starts, here’s a basic run-down of how it works:
The opening group stage of the competition sees 20 teams attempt to battle their way out of four Pools – A, B, C and D. Each Pool contains five teams and only two can advance into the knockout rounds.
From there it is standard quarter-final, semi-final, final format.
England’s Pool is particularly tricky having been drawn in C with Argentina and France. It means one of rugby’s ‘big fish’ will suffer the ignominy of going home early.
Rugby World Cup fixtures
Pool A
IRELAND, SCOTLAND, JAPAN, RUSSIA, SAMOA
Match 1
Japan vs Russia… Tokyo Stadium… Friday, September 20… 11.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 2
Ireland vs Scotland… International Stadium Yokohama… Sunday, September 22… 8.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 3
Russia vs Samoa… Kumagaya Rugby Stadium… Tuesday, September 24… 11.15am BST… (ITV 4)
Match 4
Japan vs Ireland… Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa… Saturday, September 28… 8.15am BST… (ITV)
Match 5
Scotland vs Samoa… Kobe Misaki Stadium… Monday, September 30… 11.15am BST… (ITV)
Match 6
Ireland vs Russia… Kobe Misaki Stadium… Thursday, October 3… 11.15am BST… (ITV)
Match 7
Japan vs Samoa… City of Toyota Stadium… Saturday, October 5… 11.30am BST… (ITV)
Match 8
Scotland vs Russia… Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa… Wednesday, October 9… 8.15am BST… (ITV)
Match 9
Ireland vs Samoa… Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium… Saturday, October 12… 11.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 10
Japan vs Scotland… International Stadium Yokohama… Sunday, October 13… 11.45am BST… (ITV)
Pool B
N ZEALAND, S AFRICA, ITALY, NAMIBIA, CANADA
Match 1
New Zealand vs South Africa… International Stadium Yokohama… Saturday, September 21… 10.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 2
Italy vs Namibia… Hanazono Rugby Stadium… Sunday, September 22… 6.15am BST… (ITV)
Match 3
Italy vs Canada… Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium… Thursday, September 26… 8.45am BST… (ITV 4)
Match 4
South Africa vs Namibia… City of Toyota Stadium… Saturday, September 28… 10.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 5
New Zealand vs Canada… Oita Stadium… Wednesday, October 2… 11.15am BST… (ITV 4)
Match 6
South Africa vs Italy… Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa… Friday, October 4… 10.45am BST… (ITV 4)
Match 7
New Zealand vs Namibia… Tokyo Stadium… Sunday, October 6… 5.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 8
South Africa vs Canada… Kobe Misaki Stadium… Tuesday, October 8… 11.15am BST… (ITV 4)
Match 9
New Zealand vs Italy… City of Toyota Stadium… Saturday, October 12… 5.45am BST… (ITV)
Match 10
Namibia vs Canada… Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium… Sunday, October 13… 4.15am BST… (ITV)