Rugby World Cup 2007 in France

After a thrilling final in Sydney that saw England lifting the Rugby World Cup four years ago, the 2007 Rugby World Cup has a lot to live up to.

But with it taking place in neighbouring France, one of our favourite holiday destinations, catching a match or just soaking up the atmosphere should be easier than ever.

More tickets were released for sale across all ten French venues participating in the tournament recently, and further tickets are set to go on sale this month, so getting to go to a World Cup match still a strong possibility, despite there being less than 30 days to go until the first game.

The tournament kicks off with the hosts France against Argentina on September 7th at the Stade de France and finishes with the final at the same stadium on October 20th.

Over the six weeks the World Cup matches will also be taking place in the French cities of Bordeaux, Lens (close to Lille), Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, Saint Etienne and Toulouse.

With so many places on the itinerary and the tournament running across seven weekends, rugby fans have a huge range of French holiday options they can combine with drama of the Rugby World Cup.

To guide you through it all, here are travelbite's picks of the matches and destinations for the 2007 Rugby World Cup:

England's opening match in Lens

The England rugby team's first test match will be against the USA, in the city of Lens, located at the northern tip of France.

Lens will be getting into the Rugby World Cup spirit with jugglers and make-up specialists to paint fans in the colours of the teams, as well as big screens across the city to watch the matches.

There will also be an exhibition on the history of rugby at the City Hall, and international bands playing the music of their home country.

The city is also close to the tourist hotspot of Lille, served by Eurostar, which offers holidaymakers museums, stylish shops and a huge array of places to eat and drink.

The England v United States match takes place on September 8th 2007, at the Felix-Bollaert Stadium. Other matches at the stadium include South Africa v Tonga on September 22nd, and Georgia v Namibia on September 26th.

See Ireland in action in Bordeaux

Bordeaux may be better known for its association with the reds and whites of the wine world, but in September the town is likely to be painted green, thanks to two Ireland games within a week.

The Irish rugby team will face Namibia on September 9th and Georgia on September 15th at the Chaban-Delmas Stadium.

After narrowly missing out on the six nations earlier this year, Ireland are one to watch in this year's tournament.

Located in the south-west of France, not far from the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux will be creating a rugby village, with a big screen, places to eat and open spaces to soak up the atmosphere.

The city will also be hosting an exhibition devoted to the sport - Rugby is a World at the Musée d’Aquitaine.

If you are keen to take a break from all the action of the rugby then there will be daily wine tasting and chateaux tours, available on a half day or full day basis, as well as plenty of sightseeing to do - Bordeaux has an impressive old town with cobbled streets, grand buildings and imposing monuments, along with all the shops, restaurants and cafes you would expect from France's fifth largest city.

Other games taking place at the Chaban-Delmas Stadium are Canada v Japan on September 25th and Australia v Canada on September 29th 2007.

For more information on the Rugby World Cup in Bordeaux see www.bordeauxrugby2007.com or the official tourist board website at www.bordeaux-tourisme.com

Two quarter finals in Marseille

Marseille's Velodrome stadium will be hosting two quarter finals in October, making it one of the best places to be in the late stages of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

While the quarter final matches are on, other events in France's second city include a jazz festival, and an exhibition celebrating Marseille's maritime history.

However, holidaymakers visiting the city earlier on in the tournament will be able to see another, less high profile, but no less fun competition - the Beach Rugby Cup, with national teams competing for the Sand Shield at the Parc Balnéaire du Prado.

Other matches at the Velodrome in Marseille include New Zealand v Italy on September 8th, Italy v Romania on September 12th, Argentina v Namibia on September 22nd and France v Georgia on September 30th 2007.

For more information about the Rugby World Cup in Marseille see www.marseille-tourisme.com

12 Rugby World Cup matches in Paris

Paris will be taking centre stage in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, hosting 12 matches at two stadiums, including the opening match and the final.

The Stade de France in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis will be have the highest profile matches, including both semi-finals on October 13th and 14th, and the final on the following Saturday.

England will also be playing at the impressive venue, taking on the South Africa on September 14th, following a match in the more central Parc des Princes stadium in Paris against Tonga on September 28th.

Alongside the matches there will also be a rugby festival, Festival Planète Rugby, for the duration of the tournament, which will involve free concerts, and on September 8th a parade in Saint Denis will celebrate the first full day of the tournament.

If you cannot get to the Paris matches, then head to the Eiffel Tower. There will be giant screens at the foot of the iconic monument and the surrounding park, the Champs de Mars, is the official Rugby World Cup village.

The Stade Charléty ground will also be running family-friendly rugby events, along with showing matches on a giant screen.

Other matches at the Stade de France include the opening match of France v Argentina on September 7th and France v Ireland on September 21st, and at the Parc de Princes include South Africa v Samoa on September 9th, Ireland v Argentina on September 30th, and the third-place playoff on October 19th.

For more information on the Rugby World Cup in Paris see www.parisinfo.com

For more information on 2007 Rugby World Cup see the official site at www.rugbyworldcup.com