Anticipation is sky-high for the opening of the 10th edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow, Friday, September 8, with as many as 20 national teams ready to do battle. Competing for the Webb Ellis Cup, four years after South Africa’s triumph in Japan, will be all the major battleships. Italy, led by coach Kieran Crowley, will make its debut on Saturday 9 against Namibia, and the first two matches for the Azzurri are already shaping up to be crucial (the second match will be against Uruguay), ahead of tough challenges against favorites France and New Zealand.
THE AZZURRI’S SPONSORS. Italrugby is set to capture the attention of a wide audience during the 2023 World Cup, given the enormous enthusiasm revolving around the national team. The sporting fortunes of Ange Capuozzo and his teammates can only bring significant benefits for the federation’s sponsors. Macron, the Azzurri’s sponsor since 2017, makes and produces the jersey with an eye toward sustainability: in fact, the material from which the match uniform is made comes from recycled plastic. In addition to the technical sponsor, for partners such as Vittoria Assicurazioni, Frecciarossa, Suzuki, Peroni, Fastweb and Pam, the participation of the Azzurri team in the tournament will be an opportunity to gain visibility on a global scale. Fans’ enthusiasm and interest in Italrugby matches promise to translate into a positive impact for their brands.
THE FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION. The Rugby World Cup 2023 features an interesting format: after the group stage, the top two finishers in each grouping advance to the quarterfinals, which kick off the knockout stage, leading up to the grand final on October 28. Italy’s matches will also be broadcast on Rai 2, and all 48 matches will be available on Sky Sports channels, but also live streaming on NOW TV.
