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Rugby World Cup France 2023 - Tour 1B - The Explorer


Email us at rugby@weloverugby.com for final availability.


Our Explorer Tour, with coach one hosted by Matt Dunning & coach two hosted by John Donald, visits some French rugby strongholds as well as attending 6 matches. We start in Paris for the opening of the tournament before heading to the beautiful wine region of Saint Emilion and Bordeaux. We then head to the rugby mad city of Toulouse before making our way to Lyon which will be a base for the Australian team during the tournament. We also take in the French Rivera and cities of Nice, Monaco, Marseilles & Aix-en-Provence before finishing in Lyon for the crucial Australia v Wales match. Fantastique!

MATT DUNNING

Matt earned 45 test caps between 2003 and 2009 and in Super Rugby played with the Waratahs and Western Force. After injury prevented him joining Biarritz Matt ended his career with a Shute Shield premiership with Eastwood in 2011.

Included Matches

Category 2 match tickets are included as standard for all games - enjoy incredible seats for:

Australia v Georgia, 9 September, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

New Zealand v Namibia, 15 September, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Australia v Fiji, 17 September, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne

Italy v Uruguay, 20 September, Stade de Nice, Nice

France v Namibia, 21 September, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Australia v Wales, 24 September, OL Stadium, Lyon

We are now sold out for the opening match - France v New Zealand at Stade de France on 8 September.

Inclusions

Accommodation


  • 3 nights in Paris (8-11 September)

  • 3 nights in Bordeaux (11-14 September)

  • 2 nights in Toulouse (14-16 September)

  • 2 nights in Lyon (16-18 September)

  • 3 nights in Nice (18-21 September)

  • 2 nights in Marseille (21-23 September)

  • 2 nights in Lyon (23-25 September)

  • Breakfast daily

Match Tickets


  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for Australia v Georgia

  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for Australia v Fiji

  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for Australia v Wales

  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for New Zealand v Namibia

  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for France v Namibia

  • Reserved Cat 2 ticket for Italy v Uruguay

Transfers


  • Coach & high-speed train transfers throughout

  • Stadium transfers for included matches

Sightseeing


  • Paris city tour

  • Bordeaux city tour

  • Saint-Emilion winery experience

  • Toulouse city tour

  • Aix-en-Provence

  • Lyon city tour

  • French Riviera & Monaco tour

  • Nice city tour

Merchandise


  • Commemorative We Love Rugby tour merchandise set

Matches

Category 2 match tickets are included as standard for all games - enjoy incredible seats for:

Australia v Georgia, 9 September, Stade de France, Saint-Denis

New Zealand v Namibia, 15 September, Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Australia v Fiji, 17 September, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne

Italy v Uruguay, 20 September, Stade de Nice, Nice

France v Namibia, 21 September, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille

Australia v Wales, 24 September, OL Stadium, Lyon

We are now sold out for the opening match - France v New Zealand at Stade de France on 8 September.

Itinerary

Friday 8 September - Welcome to Paris!


Details for meeting the group at today’s hotel will be sent four weeks before the tour. Extra nights of accommodation at our tour hotel will be available to add closer to the tour.

Tonight we get together with our tour hosts as the tournament kicks off with the blockbuster match-up of hosts France taking on the All Blacks. Opening matches don’t come any bigger than this and it will be the perfect appetiser ahead of Australia's first match tomorrow!

We are now sold out for the opening match - France v New Zealand at Stade de France on 8 September.

Overnight: Paris

Saturday 9 September - Australia v Georgia


The highlights of Paris await! Our tour leader and local guide will be on hand in the hotel lobby this morning to offer recommendations for the day before we meet this evening for our stadium transfer.

Australia takes on Georgia tonight at the incredible Stade de France. The Aussies will be looking to get their tournament off to a good start and we’ll be in full voice to help them along!

Australia v Georgia, Stade de France, Saint-Denis, 18:00

Overnight: Paris

Sunday 10 September - Paris City Tour


Today we visit some of Paris’s many sightseeing highlights such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Arch de Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Following our sightseeing tour you will have the afternoon to explore other local features such as the Louvre Museum or a cruise along the Seine.

This evening’s rugby action features a couple of big games between South Africa and Scotland from Marseille followed by Australia’s Pool C rivals Wales taking on Fiji in Bordeaux.

Overnight: Paris

Monday 11 September - Transfer to Bordeaux


Today we head to France’s number one wine (and rugby!) region of Bordeaux.

Surrounded by hillsides of vineyards and castles, Bordeaux has long stood at the crossroads of European civilization. In the Middle Ages the city’s harbour became known as Port de la Lune thanks to its crescent shape and Bordeaux was once Europe’s second busiest port after London.

Best of all for the tourist, the city is a world capital of wine with Vinexpo - the world wine expo - held here every two years. We will visit the modern Cite du Vin wine museum on our city tour and of course there are plenty of cafes and bars serving the best of the local produce!

After check-in at our hotel we will sample of some of the region’s famous product at the bars lining Rue Parlement Saint Pierre.

Overnight: Bordeaux

Tuesday 12 September - Bordeaux City Tour


Boasting some of France’s boldest architecture and public spaces Bordeaux is a delight for both visitors and locals. From the incredible Place de la Bourse to bustling Sainte Catherine Street and the UNESCO-listed Saint Andre Cathedral, the city has spectacular photo opportunities at every turn.

Overnight: Bordeaux

Wednesday 13 September - Saint-Emilion Winery Tour


Saint-Emilion is a medieval town whose steep, narrow streets are lined with churches and ruins dating back to the 11th century and earlier. The town and surrounding vineyards are UNESCO World Heritage listed. The wines of Saint-Emilion are blended from three main grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Today we head to Saint-Emilion and one of the region’s top wineries as we learn about and sample the best the area has to offer.

Overnight: Bordeaux

Thursday 14 September - Transfer to Toulouse


Today we depart Bordeaux and travel through some classic French countryside en route to Toulouse. The southern city of Toulouse is known for its sunshine and laid-back lifestyle making it one of France’s most pleasant cities.

This evening we head in to the old town centre for dinner before joining the locals at the pick of the city’s sports bars to cheer on the hosts as they take on Uruguay.

Overnight: Toulouse

Friday 15 September - Toulouse City Tour & New Zealand v Namibia


Today we take a tour of the historic city centre starting at the incredible central square of Place du Capitole before moving on to the Basilique Saint-Sernin, one of the most important churches on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and finishing on the banks of the Canal du Midi.

This evening we head to Stade de Toulouse for clash between the All Blacks and Namibia!

New Zealand v Namibia, Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse, 21:00

Overnight: Toulouse

Saturday 16 September - Transfer to Lyon


Today we travel to Lyon where we will be based ahead of this weekend’s rugby action. After checking in at our hotel we settle in for a massive evening of rugby action featuring Pool C rivals Wales and then the Irish take on Tonga in Pool B.

Overnight: Lyon

Sunday 17 September - Lyon City Tour & Australia v Fiji


The Romans settled on Lyon’s Fourviere hill in 43BC and the city has an incredible array of highlights stretching over its 2,000 years of history. This morning we embark on a sightseeing tour of Lyon taking in Place Bellecour, Lyon Cathedral, the Roman amphitheatre of Fourviere and the central Rue St-Jean.

Following the city tour we travel south to the historic mining town of Saint-Etienne for Australia's clash with Fiji. After being given a scare against Fiji in Japan in 2019 where they trailed by 9 points in the second half of the match, the Aussies will be keen for a solid start in this one!

Australia v Fiji, Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne, 17:45

Overnight: Lyon

Monday 18 September - Cannes & Nice


This morning we depart Lyon for the French Riviera. Our first stop is Cannes where we will enjoy lunch overlooking the Mediterranean before moving on to Nice where we will be based for three nights.

The ancient Greeks founded the first permanent settlement here around 350 BC and named the town Nikaia after the goddess Nike. From the 18th century the city became popular as a winter resort for the British aristocracy and the main beach walk is known as the Promenade des Anglais.

Overnight: Nice

Tuesday 19 September - Monaco & French Riviera Tour


Today we travel to the Principality of Monaco for a tour taking in the Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco Palace and Larvotto Beach. We then return to Nice to explore the local highlights including the famous Promenade des Anglais, Place Garibaldi and the Albert Gardens.

Overnight: Nice

Wednesday 20 September - Nice City Tour & Italy v Uruguay


Today we take a city tour of Nice. Our tour starts at the magnificent Promenade des Anglais running along the Mediterranean waterfront before heading to Nice’s old town highlights of the Town Hall, Cours Saleya market square and Saint Reparata Cathedral before we finish at the pick of Nice’s cafes and restaurants to sample some ‘cuisine Niçoise’.

This afternoon we head to Stade de Nice to see Italy v Uruguay. With the Italian border just 35km away tonight’s supporters will be heavily in favour of the Azzurri!

Italy v Uruguay, Stade de Nice, Nice, 17:45

Overnight: Nice

Thursday 21 September - Marseille & France v Namibia


This morning we travel to Marseille ready for one of the highlights of our tour, France v Namibia live at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome!

Founded by the ancient Greeks around 600 BC, Marseille is the oldest and second-largest city in France. Its strategic position on the Gulf of Lion has meant it has been a major trading port since its inception with a cosmopolitan culture with influences from across Europe, north Africa and the Middle East.

France v Namibia, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, 21:00

Overnight: Marseille

Friday 22 September - Marseilles & Aix-en-Provence


Today we take a city tour of Marseilles and the nearby town of Aix-en-Provence. Starting at the old town of Le Panier where the ancient Greeks settled in 600 BC, we wander through the intricate streets down to the waterfront area of Vieux Port before concluding at the hilltop Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and its impressive views over the city below.

After lunch we head to Aix-en-Provence. Starting at the glorious avenue of Cours Mirabeau we explore the intricate backstreets and grand city squares all featuring fountains fed from the local hot springs. Our tour ends at the daily produce market at Place Richelme.

Overnight: Marseilles

Saturday 23 September - Transfer to Lyon


We return to Lyon today ahead of Australia's massive Pool C clash with Wales. This evening we settle in at our local sports bar for this evening’s rugby featuring England’s match against Chile and then South Africa take on Ireland in Pool B.

Overnight: Lyon

Sunday 24 September - Australia v Wales


Lying at the confluence of the Rhone and Saone rivers, Lyon is France’s third largest city. UNESCO has declared Lyon’s historic areas of Fourviere, Vieux Lyon, Croix-Rousse and the central Presqu'île peninsula World Heritage status.

The city is also home to some of France’s top culinary traditions. Local bouchon restaurants serve local specialties including sausages, duck pate and roast pork, all accompanied by wines from the surrounding areas of Beaujolais and Cotes du Rhone.

This evening is Australia's all-important clash with Pool C rivals Wales. As the Aussies learnt the hard way in Japan, a win here will be crucial to avoid the top-placed Pool D team come quarter-final time!

Australia v Wales, OL Stadium, Lyon, 21:00

Overnight: Lyon

Monday 25 September - Tour Ends


We have add-on options for people wanting to experience the final pool rounds and we will have details on extra nights of accommodation and departure transfers available shortly.

Gallery



Rugby World Cup France 2023 - Tour 1B - The Explorer
Tour Dates:
8-25 Sep, 2023
Tour Duration:
18 Days/17 Nights