Rugby World Cup 2023 records more than 1.1bn views

World Rugby has revealed global content from the Rugby World Cup 2023 has reached more than 1.1 billion views, with less than eight knock-out matches left to be played.

The tournament kicked off on September 8 in Paris, with the final taking place on October 28.  Ireland, Wales, Argentina, New Zealand, England, Fiji, France and South Africa are left in the running of being crowned the winners of 2023.

In France the Rugby World Cup which is being broadcasted by TF1, has garnered a total cumulative audience of more than 164.5 million as of yet and matches involving the host nation rated the most viewed programmes of 2023, according to World Rugby. The sport organisation noted this marks an increase from the total French audience for the RWC in 2019.

During the global event, the World Rugby’s social media accounts have attracted 1.8 million new followers, with more than a third from Spanish-speaking nations and 400,000 from the US, it revealed.

The rugby body also said its official fantasy game, launched a week prior to the tournament was played by more than 500,000 people.

World Rugby’s chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We set out to make Rugby World Cup 2023 rugby’s greatest celebration of togetherness, the sport’s ultimate birthday party, and it is certainly capturing the imagination, attracting and exciting fans in record numbers. With a variety of fun activities, partner activations and live screening of all the matches, the Rugby World Cup 2023 Rugby Villages have become one of the major attractions of a special tournament. They are much more than a destination to watch matches, they are bringing together domestic and international fans in celebration of rugby, France and friendship.”

France 2023 chairman Jacques Rivoal added: “We are pleased to see how successful France 2023’s Rugby Villages have been throughout the pool stage. As I travel across the country, I am met with joyful scenes of local and international rugby fans coming together to celebrate our sport. I want to thank the host cities and host metropolises that have worked tirelessly over the past months in making these 10 Rugby Villages a reality. It is a wonderful expression of the popular success that Rugby World Cup 2023 is here in France.”