World Defence Rugby 2023

rugbyasia247 Posted On August 14, 2023

431 Views

The World Defence Rugby 2023 (known as the World Military Rugby Championship – CMMR) will be held in Brittany, France from August 16 to September 10 and will feature over 500 rugby players.

Updated August 14 2023

Uzbekistan and Japan seem to be the only Asian representatives at the World Defence Rugby 2023 and part of 12 teams attending which is an “opportunity to invite the armies of the allied nations to come together around common values that are also driven by rugby: cohesion, commitment, self-sacrifice, sense of community.”

30 rugby matches played at 26 Breton stadiums.
3 pools of four teams
Former French international Christian Califano is the Patron of the International Defence Rugby Competition.

The organisers said “The great nations of military rugby will face off in 30 matches played in 25 different towns in Brittany. Working closely with the Brittany Regional Rugby League, the French Armed Forces are fully committed to hosting this international event, which will bring together 12 nations and more than 500 players and staff, and will involve 26 stadiums and 8 accommodation sites.”

Christian Califano said via the official press guide: “I am proud to be the Ambassador of this competition and to accompany the French Military Team for the IDRC. It will be a fantastic party in Brittany and I hope that our soldiers, sailors, aviators and gendarmes will show the way for our French Team in their conquest of the World Cup.”

World Defence Rugby 2023 - Pools

Opening Ceremony – International Defence Rugby 2023

Pontivy (Brittany/France) will host the international opening ceremony of the International Defence Rugby Competition on Wednesday, August 16 2023 which will also feature a XV du Pacifique vs Team Espoirs Bretagne exhibition match at Faubourg de Verdun Stadium.