Rugby World Cup 2023 Official Travel Programme a global hit

Groupe Couleur, exclusive global rights holder for the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Official Travel Programme, launched the process for the appointment of Official Travel Agents (OTAs) on 23 January 2020. Interested agencies had until 17 July 2020 to submit their completed applications to become Official Travel Agents.

More than 100 agencies from all over the world applied.

Provisional ticket orders by these agencies for the Rugby World Cup 2023 Official Travel Programme have already largely surpassed the numbers for both Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, both of which attracted huge numbers of tourists from abroad.

Groupe Couleur’s Founder and President David Chevalier said: “We’ve received applications from across the globe! As expected, many of them were from agencies in the major territories: 90% of past OTAs from the major territories applied to be an OTA again in 2023, and there were numerous applications from new agencies. We also had a considerable number of applications from countries where rugby culture is growing, including from several countries in Asia (notably Japan), as well as from several European countries such as Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. This high level of enthusiasm shows us that RWC 2023 is going to be a huge success; supporters from all over are clearly excited for the party that awaits them at RWC France 2023. We are absolutely thrilled!”

Rugby World Cup France 2023 CEO Claude Atcher said: "Three years before the tournament kicks off, I welcome the confidence that the international market is showing in France 2023 and the Travel Programme, even in the context of the current pandemic. There's a desire for France 2023 and there is a need for it too. The next Rugby World Cup is already breaking records, and we are already saying a big 'Welcome' to rugby fans all over the world."

Rugby World Cup 2023 Official Travel Agents will be appointed and notified in October 2020. Ticket-inclusive travel packages will go on sale in March 2021, and supporters across the world can start organising their Rugby World Cup 2023 trips two and a half years before the tournament takes place.