Read original article: Download Rugby World Cup 2015 Fixtures
Rugby World Cup 2015 Fixtures
Everything you need to know about matches at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Download Rugby World Cup 2015 Fixtures (PDF file)
Friday 18th September
Saturday 19th September
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Wednesday 23rd September
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Tuesday 29th September
Thursday 1st October
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Friday 30th October
Saturday 31st October
The Cup is named after William Webb Ellis,
who is often credited as the inventor of rugby football. The trophy is silver
gilt and has been presented to the winner of the Rugby World Cup since the
first competition in 1987. It has been held twice by New Zealand (1987 &
2011), Australia (1991 & 1999) and South Africa (1995 & 2007), and once
by England in 2003.
Venues
OLYMPIC
STADIUM (LONDON)
The venue for the memorable 2012 London
Olympics will become West Ham FC’s new home in 2016.
Address Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2ST
How to get there
Stratford, which is served by the Central and Jubilee Underground
lines, the DLR and London Overground, and Stratford International are the
closest stations, both around a 20-minute walk to the stadium. Mainline train
services run from London St Pancras and Liverpool Street stations.
Capacity54,000
TWICKENHAM
(LONDON)
The home of English rugby staged its first
game in 1909 and also hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup final.
Address Twickenham
Stadium, Whitton Road, Twickenham TW2 7BA
Capacity 81,605
WEMBLEY
(LONDON)
The home of English football opened in 2007
having been rebuilt and hosted a record-breaking crowd (84,068) for a club
rugby game when Saracens played Harlequins in March.
Address Wembley
Stadium, Wembley, London HA9 0WS
Capacity90,000
Kingsholm Stadium,
Gloucester
Gloucester's ground has an enviable history
when it comes to international rugby. Kingsholm hosted its first Test match way
back in 1900, when Billy Bancroft led Wales to a 13-3 victory over England. His
opposite number that day was one Octopus Gamlin, or Herbert to his mother.
Kingsholm didn't host another international for 91 years and when it did,
12,000 fans watched world champions New Zealand score eight tries as they
cruised past the USA 46-6 in RWC 1991 thanks to a hat-trick from full back
Terry Wright. It was later the venue for a 2000 Rugby League World Cup match
between New Zealand and Lebanon. Home to Aviva Premiership side Gloucester,
Kingsholm is widely regarded as the noisiest crowd in the league, largely due to
the boisterous inhabitants of The Shed stand. In 2007 the main grandstand was
redeveloped, increasing the total capacity to 16,500.
Capacity - 16,500.
Millennium
Stadium, Cardiff
The Welsh national stadium may not be that
old, but it has already sealed a place in rugby history. The foundations of
this atmospheric ground have been shaken to the core twice as Wales secured Six
Nation Grand Slam victories here in 2005 and 2012. Situated a stone's throw
from Cardiff Central Station, it is the second largest sports venue in the
world with a fully retractable roof. Built to replace the Arms Park, it opened
with rugby (Wales beating South Africa) before becoming the primary host venue
for Rugby World Cup 1999, with Australia overhauling France in the final. Since
then, its turf has held Test matches as well as Celtic League and Heineken Cup
ties. It's not all about the oval ball, mind: Wales play football here, too,
and the FA Cup Final took place here from 2001 to 2006.
Capacity - 74,154.
Brighton
Community Stadium, Brighton
Stadium located on the outskirts of the
city of Brighton & Hove – a short hop on the train out from the city
centre. Constructed at a cost of £93m, the ground won plaudits and awards for
its semi-circular stand roofs and tubular supporting steelwork from both fans
of sport and architecture. Built to replace the local football team's Goldstone
Ground, it is spacious and comfortable, with luxurious padded seats.
Capacity - 30,750.
Villa Park,Birmingham
Based in the centre of the country with
great transport links in to Birmingham, Villa Park is expected to attract
people from all over the world with the Rugby powerhouses that are Australia
and South Africa both set to play here.
This iconic 43,000 seater stadium is
equipped with all the modern day facilities you’d expect from a world class
venue and is one of England’s best loved stadiums. Villa Park is bound to be a
firm favourite amongst RWC 2015 fans.
Back in 1924, a North Midlands select side
were thumped 40-3 by New Zealand, and in 1953, a Midlands County XV were also
dismantled, this time 18-3, by a Kiwi outfit including legendary All Blacks Bob
Stuart, Richard White and Peter Jones. This touring group was less successful
overall and endured a poor run in Wales, losing to Cardiff and drawing with Swansea
before coming up short in the Test.
Capacity - 42,785.
Elland
Road, Leeds
The stadium has already staged England
football internationals, Rugby League internationals and finals, and was among
the venues for Euro 96. Leeds was also chosen as a host city as part of
England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
Leeds may be a hotbed of rugby league – the
reigning Super League champions, Leeds Rhinos, play just down the road at
Headingley – but Elland Road's famously feisty old-school atmosphere makes it
perfect for the passion and noise of a Rugby Union World Cup fixture. The code
has been played here before, if only once: in 1992 over 14,000 turned up to
watch the South African national side, who had just been readmitted to the
international game. Boasting players like Naas Botha and Robert du Preez, they
beat a North of England XV. And while it may retain its historic charm, the
venue has great views.
Capacity - 37,914.
Stadiummk
(Stadium MK), Milton Keynes
The originally named Stadium MK is home to
the MK Dons. The ground has staged a handful of rugby union games: in 2008,
Saracens played Bristol in Milton Keynes, and during the 2010-11 season,
Northampton Saints used Stadium MK as a base for their assault on the Heineken
Cup knockout stages. The Saints defeated Ulster and Perpignan in front of big
crowds in the quarter- and semi-finals only to lose out to Leinster in the
Millennium Stadium decider. Saints have since returned to face Saracens, and
both sides may play future games at the stadium, too. The arena has expanded
this year, with a new tier adding 10,000 more seats.
Capacity - 30,717.
Sandy
Park, Exeter
Home to the recently-promoted Aviva
Premiership side Exeter Chiefs and their passionate, chanting fans, Sandy Park
is a bastion of English club rugby. Closer to Cardiff than it is London, Exeter
is an historic Roman city in Devon with a rich history. The earliest records
show that Exeter Chiefs played a match as early as 1873. Built to replace the
County Ground in 2006, the Chiefs' new home came complete with the planning
permission to expand, rising from 8,000 originally to 10,744. A combination of
Exeter's establishment as a top-flight club and Rugby World Cup 2015 will see
the capacity double to 20,600 over the next two years. This will make Sandy
Park one of the biggest club rugby grounds in England.
Capacity - 12,300.
St James’ Park, Newcastle
Hosting its first match in 1880, St James'
Park is the oldest football stadium in the North East of England. Outside of
London, it is also the second biggest sports ground in England. The stadium
itself was built on the site of the city's execution gallows, hence the name of
one stand: the Gallowgate End. Home to Newcastle United Football Club since
1892, the stadium has also hosted international and 2012 Olympic football, as
well as concerts from the likes of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. It is
situated at the heart of the city of Newcastle, famed for its passionate locals
and bustling nightlife. St James' Park will provide a lively venue for Rugby
World Cup 2015.
Capacity - 52,409.
Leicester City Stadium, Leicester
Like Midlands counterpart Pride Park, the
Leicester City Stadium replaced an old ground with a state-of-the-art
all-seater facility. It has seen significant oval ball action already:
Leicester Tigers have played six matches here, including a 2005 Heineken Cup
semi-final, which they lost to Toulouse, and a 2006 quarter-final in the same
tournament, which saw them defeated by Bath. The jinx was broken by a win over
Llanelli in a European Cup semi in 2007, and they've since got revenge over Bath
on the ground, too. In 2006, to celebrate the centenary of Springbok overseas
tours, the stadium hosted a World XV v South Africa contest. The Springboks
took the honours 32-7.
Capacity - 32,312.
Manchester City Stadium, Manchester
Located in the east of the city, opened in
the summer of 2002. British athletics heroes Jonathan Edwards and Paula
Radcliffe set Games records to win gold in the triple jump and 5000m
respectively. The City of Manchester Stadium had rugby at its heart early on.
In the Sevens final at the Games, New Zealand defeated Fiji to claim gold.
Among the champions that day were All Blacks Mils Muliaina, Bruce Reihana and
skipper Eric Rush, while the legendary Waisale Serevi turned out for Fiji.
Manchester City Football Club moved in the following year and have been there
ever since, dramatically winning the English Premier League at the ground in
May 2012. The capacity can be increased to 60,000 for concerts, with Oasis and
Take That two of the star attractions to have played at the venue and, thanks
to pioneering smart card technology, 1,200 people can enter the ground every
minute. The City of Manchester Stadium has also hosted international rugby
league, and the super league’s Magic Weekend event in 2012.
Capacity - 47,800.
Download Rugby World Cup 2015 Fixtures (PDF file)
Read original article: Download Rugby World Cup 2015 Fixtures
