Ireland have World Cup date with hosts

IRELAND will open their 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign against an African qualifier in Bordeaux on September 9.

Eddie O'Sullivan's squad will remain in Bordeaux for their second pool tie against a third ranked European nation six days later, but the key pool fixture will be the clash with hosts France at the Stade de France on September 21. The French open the tournament, probably against Argentina on September 7.

Ireland will then have a nine day break until meeting 'America 1', likely to be the Pumas, in St Etienne.

World champions England will begin their defence of the Webb Ellis Trophy in Lens on September 8. Grouped in Pool A alongside South Africa and three yet-to-be-decided qualifiers, they will start against Americas 3, which looks likely to be the USA Eagles or Canada.

England's appointment with the Springboks is scheduled for September 14 at the Stade de France.

Wales launch their campaign against Americas 2 in Nantes on September 9, then face Australia and an Asian qualifier in Cardiff, before returning to Nantes on September 29 and an appointment with Oceania 2.

Scotland start against the top repechage qualifier in St Etienne on September 9, followed Europe 2 and New Zealand at Murrayfield, followed by Europe 1 in St Etienne.

The fixture schedule and venues for the sixth Rugby World Cup were announced by tournament organisers in Paris yesterday, with the 48 fixtures earmarked for 12 different cities.

"We will make this World Cup an unforgettable event for the world of rugby," said Bernard Lapasset, president of the organising committee.

"It will be a great festival, in line with the values of sharing and friendship our sport conveys."

And Syd Millar, chairman of Rugby World Cup Limited, added: "We have a common ambition with the French organising committee to organise the best Rugby World Cup yet."

2007 WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

September

7th - Pool D, France v Americas 1 (St Denis, Paris).

8th - Pool A, England v Americans 3 (Lens); Pool B, Australia v Asia (Lyon); Pool C, New Zealand v Europe 1 (Marseille).

9th - Pool D, Ireland v Africa (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Americas 2 (Nantes); Pool A, South Africa v Oceania 1 (Parc des Princes, Paris); Pool C, Scotland v Repechage 1 (St Etienne).

11th - Pool D, Americas 1 v Europe 3 (Lyon).

12th - Pool C, Europe 1 v Europe 2 (Marseille); Pool A, America 3 v Repechage 2 (Montpellier); Pool B, Asia v Oceania 2 (Toulouse).

14th - Pool A, England v South Africa (St Denis, Paris).

15th - Pool D, Ireland v Europe 3 (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Australia (Cardiff); Pool C, New Zealand v Repechage 1 (Lyon).

16th - Pool B, Oceania 2 v Americas 2 (Cardiff); Pool A, Oceania 1 v Repechage 2 (Montpellier); Pool D, France v Asia (Toulouse).

18th - Pool C, Scotland v Europe 2 (Edinburgh).

19th - Pool C, Europe 1 v Repechage 1 (Parc des Princes, Paris).

20th - Pool B, Wales v Asia (Cardiff).

21st - Pool D, France v Ireland (St Etienne).

22nd - Pool A, South Africa v Repechage 2 (Lens); Pool D, Americas 1 v Africa (Marseille); Pool A, England v Oceania 1 (Nantes).

23rd - Pool C, Scotland v New Zealand (Edinburgh); Pool B, Australia v Oceania 2 (Montpellier).

25th - Pool B, Americas 2 v Asia (Bordeaux); Pool C, Europe 2 v Repechage 1 (Toulouse).

26th - Pool D, Europe 3 v Africa (Lens); Pool A, Oceania 1 v Americas 3 (St Etienne).

28th - Pool A, England v Repechage 2 (Parc des Princes, Paris).

29th - Pool B, Australia v Americas 2 (Bordeaux); Pool B, Wales v Oceania 2 (Nantes); Pool C, Scotland v Europe 1 (St Etienne); Pool C, New Zealand v Europe 2 (Toulouse).

30th - Pool D, France v Europe 3 (Marseille); Pool A, South Africa v Americas 3 (Montpellier); Pool D, Ireland v Americas 1 (Parc des Princes, Paris).

October

6th - first quarter-final, winner Pool B v runner-up Pool A (Marseille); second quarter-final, winner Pool C v runner-up Pool D (Cardiff).

7th - third quarter-final, winner Pool A v runner-up Pool B (Marseille); fourth quarter-final, winner Pool D v runner-up Pool C (St Denis, Paris).

13th - first semi-final (St Denis, Paris).

14th - second semi-final (St Denis, Paris).

19th - third place play-off (Parc des Princes, Paris).

20th - final (St Denis, Paris).