2019 Rugby World Cup lowdown: Dates, fixtures and how to watch in the UAE


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

The ninth Rugby World Cup, and the first ever in Asia, starts when hosts Japan play Russia in Tokyo on Friday, September 20.

The competition involves 20 sides, and comprises 48 matches, played in 12 venues across three islands in Japan.

New Zealand will be bidding to make it three World Cup titles in a row, after winning on home soil eight years ago, then again in England in 2015.

The All Blacks were recently toppled from the No 1 spot in the world rankings by Wales, who will be looking to become just the second side from the northern hemisphere – after England in 2003 – to win the Webb Ellis Cup.

South Africa will be hoping to continue their sequence of winning every third World Cup, while Ireland, England, France and Australia will all consider themselves contenders, too.

Pools

  • Pool A – Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa
  • Pool B – New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Canada
  • Pool C – England, France, Argentina, United States, Tonga
  • Pool D – Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay

TV

All matches will be broadcast in the Mena region by BeIN Sports

Fixtures (all kick offs are UAE times)

Friday, September 20

2.45pm – Japan v Russia

Saturday, September 21

8.45am – Australia v Fiji

11.15am – France v Argentina

1.45pm – New Zealand v South Africa

Sunday, September 22

9.15am – Italy v Namibia

11.45am – Ireland v Scotland

2.15pm – England v Tonga

Monday, September 23

2.15pm – Wales v Georgia

Tuesday, September 24

2.15pm – Russia v Samoa

Wednesday, September 25

9.15am – Fiji v Uruguay

Thursday, September 26

11.45am – Italy v Canada

2.45pm – England v United States

Saturday, September 28

8.45am – Argentina v Tonga

11.15am – Japan v Ireland

1.45pm – South Africa v Namibia

Sunday, September 29

9.15am – Georgia v Uruguay

11.45am – Australia v Wales

Monday, September 30

2.15pm – Scotland v Samoa

Wednesday, October 2

11.45am – France v United States

2.15pm – New Zealand v Canada

Thursday, October 3

9.15am – Georgia v Fiji

2.15pm – Ireland v Russia

Friday, October 4

1.45pm – South Africa v Italy

Saturday, October 5

9.15am – Australia v Uruguay

12pm – England v Argentina

2.30pm – Japan v Samoa

Sunday, October 6

8.45am – New Zealand v Namibia

11.45am – France v Tonga

Tuesday, October 8

2.15pm – South Africa v Canada

Wednesday, October 9

8.45am – Argentina v United States

11.15am – Scotland v Russia

1.45pm – Wales v Fiji

Friday, October 11

2.15pm – Australia v Georgia

Saturday, October 12

8.45am – New Zealand v Italy

12.15pm – England v France

2.45pm – Ireland v Samoa

Sunday, October 13

7.15am – Namibia v Canada

9.45am – United States v Tonga

12.15pm – Wales v Uruguay

2.45pm – Japan v Scotland

Saturday, October 19

11.15am – Quarterfinal 1: Winner Pool C v Runner up Pool D

2.15pm – Quarterfinal 2: Winner Pool B v Runner up Pool A

Sunday, October 20

11.15am – Quarterfinal 3: Winner Pool D v Runner up Pool C

2.15pm – Quarterfinal 4: Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B

Saturday, October 26

12pm – Semifinal 1: Winner quarterfinal 1 v Winner quarterfinal 2

Sunday, October 27

1pm – Semifinal 2: Winner quarterfinal 3 v Winner quarterfinal 4

Friday, November 1

1pm – Bronze final

Saturday, November 2

1pm - Final

Past winners (Host country in brackets)

1987 – New Zealand (New Zealand)

1991 – Australia (England)

1995 – South Africa (South Africa)

1999 – Australia (Wales)

2003 – England (Australia)

2007 – South Africa (France)

2011 – New Zealand (New Zealand)

2015 – New Zealand (England)

MATCH INFO

Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)

TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court

Starting at 2pm:

Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]

Not before 7pm:

Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)

Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]

 

Court One

Starting at midday:

Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)

Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)

Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)

Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)

Specs

Engine: 3.0L twin-turbo V6
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 405hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 562Nm at 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.2L/100km
Price: From Dh292,845 (Reserve); from Dh320,145 (Presidential)
On sale: Now

THE BIO

Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.

Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.

Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.

Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.

 

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
'Panga'

Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari

Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta

Rating: 3.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)

Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)

Wednesday

Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)

Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)

Norwich City v Everton (9pm)

Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)

Thursday

Burnley v Watford (9pm)

Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)

Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)

Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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What is safeguarding?

“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.

TO A LAND UNKNOWN

Director: Mahdi Fleifel

Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa

Rating: 4.5/5