GEODIS Joins RWC 2023 as Official Freight Carrier

The France 2023 Organising Committee has announced that GEODIS joins RWC 2023 as the Official Freight Carrier of the tournament.

In an announcement on the France RWC 2023 website, it was confirmed that GEODIS has “committed to providing bespoke logistics services with the target of having the lowest possible impact on the environment.”

Claude Atcher, France 2023 CEO, said: “From the start of the France 2023 project, we made our responsibility clear: to organise an event capable of minimising its impact on the environment, notably through the help of its partners. We are happy to share this ambition with GEODIS, a company that is both experienced in delivering international sporting events and committed to tackling environmental issues within its industry. We will work together to make Rugby World Cup 2023 a sustainable event, aligned with societal challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Photo Credit: Rugby World Cup 2023

GEODIS will be responsible for ensuring the efficient management of approximately 80 tons of equipment for the 20 participating nations at RWC 2023. The RWC organisers also added they will also “meet the logistical needs of the thousands of volunteers involved throughout the tournament” which is being held across nine stadiums in 10 French host cities.

GEODIS will use low-carbon vehicles to achieve its mission and are already committed to deploying such fleets in roughly 40 French cities between now and 2024.

Marie-Christine Lombard, GEODIS CEO, said: “I am proud that GEODIS has been entrusted with the critical mission of being the Official Freight Carrier of Rugby World Cup France 2023. Team spirit, integrity, passion, discipline and respect are all values that characterise this sport and that we share at GEODIS. As the CEO of a French-rooted yet truly international group, I am excited for our teams to play a part in an event that brings so many people together and that gives France the opportunity to shine at an international level.”

Editors Note – This has come as a surprise as DHL has been a long term partner of World Rugby and the Rugby World Cup and the Sevens Series but no mention was made by the governing body.

We have been told by sources that negotiations between DHL and the RWC Organising Committee broke down earlier in 2022 and they would not be involved with the Rugby World Cup – this has also led to the suggestion the logistics & international shipping company may also withdraw from the HSBC World Sevens Series in the future although this is to be confirmed.

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