Mickel Clark
The Rugby World Cup has historically been dominated by two teams – New Zealand, known for their iconic black jerseys, and South Africa. South Africa is the defending champion, they defeated England in 2019 Rugby World Cup and are looking to win it one more time.
In this blog, we will talk about everything you need to know about the tournament and where and how to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup in South Africa for free.
How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa for free?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is streaming on ITV in the UK. ITV is a free-to-air channel, only available in the United Kingdom, but can be accessed from South Africa with a reliable VPN.
We recommend getting an ExpressVPN account to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV in South Africa online free.
- Sign up to ExpressVPN to unblock ITV. (You’ll get three extra months free with a 12-month plan, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee)
- Download ExpressVPN on your devices of choice (iOS, Android,
Windows, Mac, and more) - Open the app and connect to a British server
- Now open itv.com in your browser or in-app
- Search for Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV from South Africa
- Enjoy
Watching Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa for Free| Detailed Explanation
Here are the detailed steps you need to follow to watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 from South Africa for free on ITV:
1- Get ExpressVPN to access ITV
You can get three extra months free of ExpressVPN with their annual plan. That’s 15 months for the price of 12. A single subscription simultaneously supports five devices and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2- Download the ExpressVPN app on your device
ExpressVPN supports almost all devices, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. Using their smart DNS, you can also use ExpressVPN on your smart TV or gaming console.
3- Connect to a British Server
After downloading the ExpressVPN app, open up the ExpresVPN app and connect to a British server to get a British IP address.
Since ITV is only accessible from the United Kingdom, you will need a British IP address to access it and watch Rugby World Cup 2023 from South Africa for free.
4- Enjoy
After connecting to a British server, open itv.com in your browser or in-app, search for Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV from South Africa, and enjoy.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa?
The broadcasting rights of Rugby World Cup 2023 are distributed among several channels and streaming services. ITV is among them, and it’s a free-to-air channel in the UK.
We recommend watching the 2023 Rugby World Cup online for free in South Africa on ITV with an ExpressVPN account.
SuperSport is the official broadcaster of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. You can regularly catch all news related to the Rugby World Cup on the SuperSport app.
However, you can not stream SuperSport directly with a subscription like Netflix or Hulu. You have to get a DSTV subscription, which will cost you around R879 to R29.
There are other TV providers like OpenView HD and StarSat but none of them has SuperSport, therefore getting a DSTV subscription is mandatory to stream the 2023 Rugby World Cup from South Africa.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 for free in South Africa?
Unfortunately, no South African streaming service will broadcast the Rugby World Cup 2023 for free in South Africa. However, if you are looking for a free fix to stream the Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa, we recommend getting an ExpressVPN account to change your IP address to a British IP and watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV.
Our team of experts has tested ExpressVPN to stream sports events like US Open 2023 in UK, Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and Wimbledon from Canada, and it worked perfectly.
Which channels will have Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa?
SuperSport is the official broadcasting partner of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. You can watch the Rugby World Cup with a DSTV, costing you R29/m.
You will need the premium DSTV package with all Supersport channels that will cost you a minimum amount of R597/m. You can get this package at R549 if you opt for a direct streaming service and ditch the decoder.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 will be streaming on the SuperSport Rugby channel on DSTV. That is channel 211 in the DSTV premium package. A DSTV premium package costs R879/m with a decoder and R799/m without a decoder.
You can access all the premium channels with a DSTV premium subscription like, ESPN, Ginx Sports, and many others. If you like watching movies and TV shows, the DSTV premium packages come with premium channels like M-Net, Comedy Central, BBC Birt, CBS Reality, and E!. You can also stream National Geographic, BBC Earth, and the History Channel.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 on mobile in South Africa?
You can watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 with the DSTV mobile applications. Alternatively, the SuperSport application will have all the updates, scores for you, so download it.
However, the best and most free way to stream the 2023 Rugby World Cup is on ITV with an ExpressVPN account.
Rugby World Cup News
The opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup brought inconsistent rulings around one of the sport’s most contentious issues – head-on-head contact. Three similar collisions resulted in different outcomes, fueling debate about consistency in officiating dangerous play.
In Saturday’s match between England and Argentina, Tom Curry was red-carded just 3 minutes in for making head contact with Juan Cruz Mallia, continuing England’s troubles with red cards in 2022. However, on Sunday, Chile’s Martin Sigren received only a sin-bin for a comparable head clash with a Japanese player.
Most frustrating for Scotland was the first minute incident between Jack Dempsey and Jesse Kriel in their match with South Africa. Despite clear head-on-head contact, the officials took no action, in contrast to the strict sanction against England the day prior.
The lack of consistency across these three head contact cases within 24 hours of each other at rugby’s showcase event demonstrates the difficulty in officiating one of the sport’s grayest areas. With player welfare paramount, fans and teams alike will expect clearer standards and application going forward in the tournament.
Rugby World Cup 2023 start date?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will start on Friday, 8th September 2023, and will continue for more than a month, ending on Saturday, 28th October 2023.
Where is the Rugby World Cup 2023 happening?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, and it’s set to be a massive tournament full of excitement. The matches will take place at stadiums across France from September 8 to October 28 this year. The opening game and final will happen at the huge Stade de France in Paris.
Twenty teams have qualified so far, including many of the best in the world, like New Zealand, England, South Africa, and Australia. They’ll be split into four groups of five teams each. The top two from each group will move on to the quarterfinals. In total there will be 48 games played.
France is in Group A with powerhouses New Zealand and Italy. The defending champions, South Africa, is in Group B. Hosts France, have been preparing like crazy to put on a spectacular World Cup. With less than a year to go, rugby fans all over the globe are already pumped up for what looks set to be an epic tournament.
What is the prize money for the Rugby World Cup 2023?
There is no official word on the prize money of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, it’s expected to be more than $20 million, which was awarded to the winning team in 2019.
Why is Rugby World Cup so popular in South Africa?
Rugby’s first World Cup tournament took place in 1987, with Australia and New Zealand hosting. This big event helped the sport become more popular worldwide. New Zealand won the first ever Rugby World Cup.
There are now 20 teams that play in the World Cup. They are split into 4 groups of 5 teams each. The top 2 teams in each group move on to the knockout round with quarter finals, semi finals and the big final match. The whole tournament takes around 6 weeks.
Some Key Moments
- In 2003, England’s Jonny Wilkinson made a tough drop kick that helped England beat Australia in extra time. This was England’s first World Cup win.
- New Zealand’s team, the All Blacks, have won the World Cup 3 times – in 1987, 2011 and 2015. Their Haka dance before matches is super famous.
- Japan caused a major upset when they beat two-time champs South Africa at the 2015 World Cup. This was a big deal for Asian rugby.
More than Just Games
The World Cup brings fans from all over to cheer for their teams. It’s a way to celebrate unity and sportsmanship globally. The local communities hosting also get involved.
Famous Players
- Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – A global superstar in the 1990s.
- Martin Johnson (England) – Captain of the 2003 winning England squad.
- Richie McCaw (New Zealand) – Led the All Blacks to victories in 2011 and 2015.
So in basic terms, the Rugby World Cup started in 1987 and now brings together teams and fans from around the world every 4 years for an exciting tournament.
South Africa in Rugby World Cup
South Africa’s Dominance in Rugby World Cup History
- 3 World Cup Titles – South Africa has won the Rugby World Cup 3 times (1995, 2007 and 2019), more than any other country. They are the reigning world champions.
South Africa’s Consistent World Cup Performances
- 7 Semi-Final Appearances – The Springboks, as the South African team is known, have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup a record 7 times out of the 9 tournaments held so far.
Massive Viewership for World Cup in South Africa
- 67% TV Audience Share – In 2019, over 11.7 million South Africans tuned in to watch the World Cup Final, representing a massive 67% share of the total TV audience during the match.
- 330,000 Tweets – During the 2019 World Cup, the hashtag #StrongerTogether was used over 330,000 times on Twitter by South Africans supporting their team.
South Africa Currently Ranked #1 in the World
- Top of Rankings – South Africa is ranked number 1 in the World Rugby rankings as of August 2022. They have held the top ranking for over 3 years.
Legendary National Heroes
- Popular Players – Legendary South African players like John Smit, Bryan Habana, Francois Pienaar and Siya Kolisi are heroes in rugby-crazed South Africa.
The combination of an outstanding World Cup record, passionate fan support and pride in the national team make the Rugby World Cup a hugely popular event in South Africa every four years.
South Africa matches in the Rugby World Cup 2023
South Africa is grouped with Scotland, Romania, Ireland and Tonga in Pool B of the Rugby World Cup.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sept 10 | South Africa vs Scotland | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
| Sun, Sept 17 | South Africa vs Romania | Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux |
| Sat, Sept 23 | South Africa vs Ireland | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| Sun, Oct 1 | South Africa vs Tonga | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
South African team for the Rugby World Cup 2023
The South African Rugby World Cup squad for 2023 has been finalized and here is the complete list. Keep in mind that the South African Rugby team has directly qualified for the World Cup and will face Scotland in their first game.
FORWARDS
Props
Vincent Koch
Ox Nché
Frans Malherbe
Trevor Nyakane
Steven Kitshoff
Hookers
Bongi Mbonambi
Malcolm Marx
Locks
Marvin Orie
RG Snyman
Jean Kleyn
Eben Etzebeth
Back-rows
Marco van Staden
Jasper Wiese
Kwagga Smith
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Duane Vermeulen
Siya Kolisi (captain)
Utility forwards
Franco Mostert
Deon Fourie
BACKS
Scrum-halves
Faf de Klerk
Jaden Hendrikse
Grant Williams
Cobus Reinach
Fly-halves
Manie Libbok
Damian Willemse
Andre Esterhuizen
Jesse Kriel
Damian de Allende
Back-three
Canan Moodie
Cheslin Kolbe
Makazole Mapimpi
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Willie le Roux
Which teams have qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2023?
Get ready for Rugby World Cup 2023 hosted in France!
The games will take place in 9 different French cities from September 8 to October 28 next year. Matches are happening in cool locations like Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and more.
So far 20 national teams have qualified, including powerhouse squads from New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia.
The teams will be split into 4 groups of 5 for the first round. The top 2 from each group will then battle it out in the quarterfinals. In total 48 matches will go down, ending with the final on October 28 in Paris.
This is the first time ever that France gets to host Rugby World Cup. Cities across the country are already prepping stadiums and getting ready for fans to show up. Supporters from all over the globe will head to France next year to cheer on their teams.
There’s less than a year left until Rugby World Cup 2023 starts up! France is working hard to deliver an epic tournament for players and fans alike.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | South Africa | Wales | England |
| France | Ireland | Australia | Japan |
| Italy | Scotland | Fiji | Argentina |
| Uruguay | Tonga | Georgia | Samoa |
| Namibia | Romania | Portugal | Chile |
Rugby World Cup 2023 Schedule
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is happening this year in France. Here is the complete schedule for the tournament.
Preliminary Rounds
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sept 8 | France v New Zealand | Stade de France | 8:15pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Italy v Namibia | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 12:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Ireland v Romania | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:30pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Australia v Georgia | Stade de France | 5:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | England v Argentina | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | Japan v Chile | Stade de Toulouse | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | South Africa v Scotland | Stade de Marseille | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | Wales v Fiji | Stade de Bordeaux | 8:00pm |
| Thu, Sept 14 | France v Uruguay | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 15 | New Zealand v Namibia | Stadium de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Samoa v Chile | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Wales v Portugal | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Ireland v Tonga | Stade de la Beaujoire | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | South Africa v Romania | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | Australia v Fiji | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | England v Japan | Stade de Nice | 8:00pm |
| Wed, Sept 20 | Italy v Uruguay | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Thu, Sept 21 | France v Namibia | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 22 | Argentina v Samoa | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | Georgia v Portugal | Stadium de Toulouse | 1:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | England v Chile | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | South Africa v Ireland | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 24 | Scotland v Tonga | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 24 | Wales v Australia | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Wed, Sept 27 | Uruguay v Namibia | OL Stadium | 4:45pm |
| Thu, Sept 28 | Japan v Samoa | Stade de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 29 | New Zealand v Italy | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Argentina v Chile | Stade de la Beaujoire | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Fiji v Georgia | Stade de Bordeaux | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Scotland v Romania | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 1 | Australia v Portugal | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Oct 1 | South Africa v Tonga | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Thu, Oct 5 | New Zealand v Uruguay | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Oct 6 | France v Italy | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | Wales v Georgia | Stade de la Beaujoire | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | England v Samoa | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | Ireland v Scotland | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Japan v Argentina | Stade de la Beaujoire | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Tonga v Romania | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Fiji v Portugal | Stade de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
Quarter-Finals
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 14 | Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D | Stade de Marseille | 4:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 14 | Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 15 | Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C | Stade de Marseille | 4:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 15 | Winner Pool 4 v Runner-up Pool B | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Semi-Finals
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 20 | Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 21 | Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Bronze-Medal Match
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 27 | Runner-up SF 1 v Runner-up SF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Final
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 28 | Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
FAQs to stream Rugby World Cup 2023
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 Live online for free?
Rugby World Cup 2023 will be streaming on ITV in the UK. The best possible way to stream it on ITV for free is with an ExpressVPN account from anywhere outside the UK.
Which teams has won the Rugby World Cups?
Unlike the FIFA World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup, the Rugby space is dominated by South Africa and New Zealand, with three victories each. The third-best team is Australia, with two wins (1991 & 1999). England has won the Rugby World Cup one time in 2003.
France has been in the finals three times (1987, 1999, 2011) but never won the Rugby World Cup, but things are a little different this time because France is the host, and the French people are looking to see their team win in their home ground.
Which stadiums will have Rugby World Cup matches?
- Stade de France (Saint-Denis) - This 80,000-capacity stadium in Paris will host the opening match and the final.
- Stade Vélodrome (Marseille) - The 67,000-seater stadium will host the semi-finals.
- Stade de Lyon (Lyon) - This 59,000-capacity venue will host semi-finals.
- Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille) - The 50,000-seater stadium will host group stage and knockout matches.
- Allianz Riviera (Nice) - This 35,000-capacity stadium on the French Riviera will be a group stage venue.
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Etienne) - The 35,000-seater is another group stage venue.
- Matmut Atlantique (Bordeaux) - This 42,000-capacity stadium will also host group stage matches.
- Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) - The 33,000-seater venue will be used for group stage.
- Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes) - A 38,000-capacity stadium that will host group stage matches.
Which teams have won the Rugby World Cups?
Here are the teams that have won the Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987:
- New Zealand - The All Blacks have won the Rugby World Cup 3 times (1987, 2011, 2015), making them the most successful team in the tournament's history.
- South Africa - The Springboks have won the World Cup twice, in 1995 and 2007. Their 1995 win was their first World Cup title after the end of apartheid.
- Australia - The Wallabies won back-to-back World Cups in 1991 and 1999. Their 1991 victory was at home.
- England - England won their first and only World Cup title when they hosted the tournament in 2003. They defeated Australia in extra time in the final.
- No other team has won the Rugby World Cup besides these 4. The only other teams to reach the final are France (1987, 1999, 2011) and Argentina (2015).
Some key teams like Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Fiji, Japan are still searching for their first Rugby World Cup title.
Which cities will matches be held in?
Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Nantes, Toulouse.
When is the Rugby World Cup final?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will begin on September 8 with hosts France versus New Zealand at Stade de France in Paris. The final will also be held at Stade de France in Paris on October 28. So the tournament will kick off and conclude in the French capital. In total, 48 matches will take place over seven weeks in 9 cities across France to crown the next World Cup winner.
Wrap Up
The Rugby World Cup is a spectacular global celebration of the sport that unites nations and fans worldwide through a shared love of the game. It creates legends and underdog tales while fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship. For players, it’s the ultimate stage to shine. For fans, it is an unforgettable experience bound by rugby.
The topic of watching the Rugby World Cup 2023 from South Africa for free has been discussed thoroughly. The best option you have to watch the tournament for free is on ITV with an ExpressVPN account to change your IP address. We tested it by watching Rugby World Cup in USA, and it worked perfectly.
Other options you have is getting a DSTV premium subscription and streaming Rugby World Cup 2023 on the SuperSport Rugby channel.
