RWC kick-off times announced

The game will be the first of four matches played in France on Sunday September 9th and will launch the action in the north-west of the host nation at 2.00pm local time.

South Africa v Samoa in Paris will follow at 4.00pm, Scotland’s Pool C game against Repechage 1 will be at 6.00pm and Ireland’s clash with Namibia in Bordeaux will complete the round of Sunday games at 8.00pm.

The International Rugby Board announced the kick-off times for the 48 matches of Rugby World Cup 2007 on Wednesday January 10th. Host nation France will kick-off the sixth global rugby tournament against Argentina at Stade de France at 9.00pm local time on Friday September 7th.

England will begin their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup against the USA in Lens the following day with the match kicking-off at 6.00pm local time.

New Zealand’s opening Pool C match against Europe 1 qualifier Italy in Marseille on Saturday September 8th will kick-off at 1.45pm local time, while former double world champion Australia will play its first match against Japan in Lyon on Saturday September 8th at 3.45pm local time.

Wales’s clash with two-times world champions Australia at the Millennium Stadium will kick-off at 2.00pm local time on Saturday September 15th and the clash with Japan in Cardiff on Thursday September 20th will start at 8.00pm.

The Rugby World Cup Final, which will be played at the 80,000 capacity Stade de France stadium, will kick-off at 9.00pm local time on Saturday October 20th.

Wales’s RWC 2007 Fixtures (French Local Time)
Sun 9th Sept  Pool B  Wales v Canada  Nantes  14.00*
Sat 15th Sept  Pool B  Wales v Australia  Cardiff  15.00*
Sun 16th Sept  Pool B  Fiji v Canada  Cardiff  14.00*
Thu 20th Sept  Pool B  Wales v Japan  Cardiff  21.00*
Sat 29th Sept  Pool B  Wales v Fiji  Nantes  17.00*
Sat 6th Oct  QF2  W pool C v RU pool D  Cardiff  21.00*
Sat 20th Oct  2007 RWC Final  Stade de France  21.00*
* Cardiff and Edinburgh one hour behind local French time

The full fixture list is available at: http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/EN/Home/RWC+Finals+Matches