Paris (AFP)

Minimum five days of rest and groups of 33 players per selection: World Rugby has decided to extend the rest period between each World Cup match, shifting the 2023 final by one week, to October 28.

This decision to extend the rest period between each match is not trivial: with now at least five days, the competition is extended by one week while the selected groups will go from 31 to 33 players.

The goal?

"Optimize recovery and preparation," assures the governing body of world rugby.

"The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France will feature longer rest periods for all teams. This decision comes after the Rugby World Cup Board of Directors, the World Rugby Executive Committee, the Organizing Committee France-2023 and the International Rugby Players have agreed on a set of principles relating to the health of the players leading to a greatly improved match schedule, "said World Rugby in a statement.

According to Bernard Laporte, president of the French Federation and vice-president of World Rugby, "this historic decision makes France-2023 the fairest Rugby World Cup of all time".

Same story for Brian O'Driscoll.

For the former Irish international center (133 selections between 1999 and 2014), today representative of the players' union International Rugby Players on the board of directors of the Rugby World Cup, "rugby has become too physical and demanding to be able to play with short periods of rest ".

- "Increase in tourism" -

"All the teams have found it difficult, especially those who do not have the depth of the workforce of the main nations," said the former captain of the XV of Clover.

In 2019, during the Japanese World Cup, the XV of France had not played for eleven days between its narrow victory against Argentina (23-21), on September 21, and the lesson inflicted on the United States (33-9 ), October 2.

Before playing four days later, against Tonga (23-21).

In the same pool, the English beat Tonga (35-3) on September 22, then the United States (45-7) on 26 and Argentina (39-10) on October 5.

That is to say three matches in fifteen days.

In addition, according to World Rugby, this new calendar will give a boost to the host country, which will thus benefit from an additional week to welcome the supporters.

"This will lead to increased tourism, spending and economic benefits," says the governing body.

"For France and its host cities, it is a pleasure to welcome fans from all over the world. They will thus be able to take the time to discover the magnificent landscapes and monuments of our beautiful country", welcomed Laporte.

The final schedule for the 2023 World Cup will be announced on February 26.

The 2023 World Cup, organized in France, begins on September 8.

The defending South Africans will notably face Scotland and Ireland.

The XV of France, he will have a big challenge since he was placed in Pool A with the All Blacks.

© 2021 AFP