Scotland will play defending champions South Africa in their first match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Wales take on Fiji, against whom they suffered a pool-stage shock in 2007, on the same weekend.

The match schedule begins with hosts France taking on three-time champions New Zealand at Paris' Stade de France on Friday, 8 September.

"Everyone who likes rugby dreams of seeing this game," France captain Charles Ollivon said of the clash with the All Blacks.

"Kicking off our World Cup against the All Blacks, there's no equivalent."

Ireland's first opposition will be confirmed when the final two European teams are confirmed, with Georgia, Russia and Spain among the possibilities.

Ireland's potentially crucial Pool B meeting with Scotland will take place at the 80,000-seater Stade de France on Saturday, 7 October.

England's and Scotland's opening games will take place in Marseille's Stade Velodrome on successive days as part of organisers' plan of bringing fans together for 'double-header weekends' in host cities.

Wales and Ireland will both begin their campaigns in Bordeaux on the same weekend.

The tournament has been extended by a week to allow all teams at least five days' rest between pool matches, while squads have been expanded from 31 to 33 players.

The top two teams in each of the four pools progress to the quarter-finals, which are shared between Marseille and Paris.

Both semi-finals, the third-place match and 28 October's final all take place at the Stade de France.

2023 Rugby World Cup schedule

Pool A

September 8: Stade de France - France v New Zealand

September 9: Saint-Etienne - Italy v Africa 1

September 14: Lille - France v America 1

September 15: Toulouse - New Zealand v Africa 1

September 20: Nice - Italy v America 1

September 21: Marseille - France v Africa 1

September 27: Lyon - America 1 v Africa 1

September 29: Lyon - New Zealand v Italy

October 5: Lyon - New Zealand v America 1

October 6: Lyon - France v Italy

Pool B

September 9: Bordeaux - Ireland v Europe 2

September 10: Marseille - South Africa v Scotland

September 16: Nantes - Ireland v Asia/Pacific 1

September 17: Bordeaux - South Africa v Europe 2

September 23: Stade de France - South Africa v Ireland

September 24: Nice - Scotland v Asia/Pacific 1

September 30: Lille - Scotland v Europe 2

October 1: Marseille - South Africa v Asia/Pacific 1

October 7: Stade de France - Ireland v Scotland

October 8: Lille - Asia/Pacific 1 v Europe 2

Pool C

September 9: Saint-Denis - Australia - Europe 1

September 10: Bordeaux - Wales v Fiji

September 16: Nice - Wales v Winner final qualifying round

September 17: Saint-Etienne - Australia v Fiji

September 23: Toulouse - Europe 1 v Winner final qualifying round

September 24: Lyon - Wales v Australia

September 30: Bordeaux - Fiji v Europe 1

October 1: Saint-Etienne - Australia v - Winner final qualifying round

October 7: Nantes - Wales v Europe 1

October 8: Toulouse - Fiji v Winner final qualifying round

Pool D

September 9: Marseille - England v Argentina

September 10: Toulouse - Japan v America 2

September 16: Bordeaux - Oceania 1 v America 2

September 17: Nice - England v Japan

September 22: Saint-Etienne - Argentina v Oceania 1

September 23: Lille - England v America 2

September 28: Toulouse - Japan v Oceania 1

September 30: Nantes - Argentina v America 2

October 7: Lille - England v Oceania 1

October 8: Nantes - Japan v Argentina

Quarter-finals

October 14: Marseille - Pool C winner v Pool D runner-up

October 14: Stade de France - Pool B winner v Pool A runner-up

October 15: Marseille - Pool D v Pool C runner-up

October 15: Stade de France - Pool A winner v Pool B runner-up

Semi-finals

October 20: Stade de France - Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2

October 21: Stade de France - Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4

Third place play-off

October 27: Stade de France

Final

October 28: Stade de France