Rugby World Cup & Wine Tours
France is hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the sport’s greatest spectacle, with several matches being played in Bordeaux. Teams from Romania and Fiji will have base camps near Bordeaux, in Libourne and Lormont, and several other teams will also be playing here: Chile, Georgia, Ireland, Samoa, South Africa, and Wales.
We’re looking forward to welcoming rugby lovers and other visitors from around the world in September, to experience the best of French culture and hospitality. In between matches, there’s lots to see and do in Bordeaux and beyond, from beautiful architecture, to classic and contemporary cuisine, to riverboat cruises, to sampling some of the countless wonderful wines during visits to picturesque chateaux.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Saint-Emilion
For example, Romania’s base camp in Libourne is near UNESCO World Heritage Site Saint-Emilion, renowned for centuries for its wine-making, as well as its churches, Roman ruins, and restaurants, among this charming village’s quaint cobbled streets.
Some local wineries have already been getting in the mood, with Château Fleur Cardinale creating a limited edition wine. Rugby Spirit pays tribute to team spirit, perseverance and sharing, values shared by rugby fans and winemakers alike. There are only 2,000 hand-numbered magnums, in special wooden presentation boxes.
Don’t worry if you miss out on those special bottles, because there are so many more marvellous wines on offer from the region’s wine producers. We’re sure visitors from wine-loving, wine-making nations like Chile and South Africa will be especially keen to sample some of the best of Bordeaux wines while they’re here.
When and where is Bordeaux hosting the Rugby World Cup?
Matches will be played at the Stade de Bordeaux, also known as Matmut Atlantique Stadium. Seating in this impressive, modern, 42,000-capacity stadium has excellent sightlines, so you’re guaranteed a great view of the action no matter where you are.
Here’s the schedule of matches:
- Saturday, 9 September – Ireland v Romania
- Sunday, 10 September – Wales v Fiji
- Saturday, 16 September – Samoa v Chile
- Sunday, 17 September – South Africa v Romania
- Saturday, 30 September – Fiji v Georgia
And for rugby fans who are coming to watch matches in Paris, bear in mind that Bordeaux is only two hours away on the super fast TGV train, so spending a day or two in Bordeaux between matches is very do-able. The TGV also connects Bordeaux to the cities of Toulouse, Marseille and Nice, which are also hosting matches.
This is the perfect opportunity to experience your passion for rugby and wine! If you’d like to book a private and customizable wine tour with us between match days, there are plenty to choose from here for a truly memorable trip. Or if you’d like to visit Bordeaux at a quieter time of year, before or after the Rugby World Cup, we’d love to organize a bespoke itinerary to match your interests for you then too.
