World Cup fixture break for Ireland

IRELAND’S opening pool game against Namibia in the Rugby World Cup will kick off at 7pm Irish time on September 8 in Bordeaux.

Significantly, the scheduling announced by the IRB yesterday means Eddie O’Sullivan’s side will have one more day’s rest than Argentina ahead of their vital final pool game.

Ireland’s second game is against Georgia on Saturday, September 15, again in Bordeaux, a game which kicks off at 8pm (Irish time). The following Friday — September 21 — the men in green take on hosts France at the Stade de France in Paris, also at 8pm. That means Ireland will have an extra 24 hours’ rest compared to their final pool opponents, Argentina. The South Americans play Namibia on September 22 before they take on Ireland on Sunday, September 30, at Parc des Princes at 4pm.