Key points

• The primary operational and logistical risks during the Rugby World Cup will be activism, domestic unrest, crowd control, mobility disruption, terrorism, crime and cyber.

• Ahead of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, the Rugby World Cup will serve as a test for France’s and Paris’ capabilities to host a well-organised major sporting event.

• A series of anti-pension protests in 2023 and June’s nationwide rioting have highlighted possible security risks across France during the Rugby World Cup.

Context

Between 8 September and 28 October, France will host the Rugby World Cup. Matches will be played in several cities, including Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris, and Saint-Étienne. Each of these cities has a host stadium and a Rugby Village (or fan zone), in which individuals will be able to watch matches in designated outdoor areas (see interactive map for more details). Following the perceived organisational failures of the 2022 UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France, the Rugby World Cup will test the capital’s ability to stage a major and well-organised world sporting event. In light of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, as well as the level of domestic unrest in 2023, the authorities will hope for a seamless Rugby World Cup to demonstrate France’s credentials internationally..................