Stadium De Toulouse

Built to be a FIFA World Cup 1938 host venue, Stadium de Toulouse has since undergone three renovations and staged matches when football’s global showpiece returned to France 60 years later, and again during UEFA Euro 2016. 

The historic stadium has had a long association with rugby, having served as a home for Stade Toulousain during Top 14 and European Champions Cup matches. France first played at Stadium de Toulouse on 15 December, 1963, when Les Bleus were held to a 6-6 draw against Romania. Eleven years later, the stadium provided the venue for a 13-4 South Africa win over France, but Les Bleus have enjoyed some happy moments in Toulouse too. France have twice beaten the All Blacks at Stadium de Toulouse, 18-13 in November, 1977, and 22-15 in November, 1995, when tries from Jean-Luc Sadourny, Richard Dourthe and Philippe Saint-André helped defeat a New Zealand side containing World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Jonah Lomu. Les Bleus also gained revenge on the Springboks in November, 2009, when Vincent Clerc’s first-half try helped the hosts to a 20-13 victory. 

By that stage, Stadium de Toulouse had hosted four RWC 2007 matches, featuring the hosts, Fiji, Japan, Namibia, Portugal, Romania and New Zealand. Fiji, Japan and the All Blacks are already guaranteed to return to Toulouse during RWC 2023, as well as Namibia, qualified as Africa 1.