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. All matches will be broadcast in the Mena region by BeIN Sports <strong>Friday, September 20</strong> 2.45pm – Japan v Russia <strong>Saturday, September 21</strong> 8.45am – Australia v Fiji 11.15am – France v Argentina 1.45pm – New Zealand v South Africa <strong>Sunday, September 22</strong> 9.15am – Italy v Namibia 11.45am – Ireland v Scotland 2.15pm – England v Tonga <strong>Monday, September 23</strong> 2.15pm – Wales v Georgia <strong>Tuesday, September 24</strong> 2.15pm – Russia v Samoa <strong>Wednesday, September 25</strong> 9.15am – Fiji v Uruguay <strong>Thursday, September 26</strong> 11.45am – Italy v Canada 2.45pm – England v United States <strong>Saturday, September 28</strong> 8.45am – Argentina v Tonga 11.15am – Japan v Ireland 1.45pm – South Africa v Namibia <strong>Sunday, September 29</strong> 9.15am – Georgia v Uruguay 11.45am – Australia v Wales <strong>Monday, September 30</strong> 2.15pm – Scotland v Samoa <strong>Wednesday, October 2</strong> 11.45am – France v United States 2.15pm – New Zealand v Canada <strong>Thursday, October 3</strong> 9.15am – Georgia v Fiji 2.15pm – Ireland v Russia <strong>Friday, October 4</strong> 1.45pm – South Africa v Italy <strong>Saturday, October 5</strong> 9.15am – Australia v Uruguay 12pm – England v Argentina 2.30pm – Japan v Samoa <strong>Sunday, October 6</strong> 8.45am – New Zealand v Namibia 11.45am – France v Tonga <strong>Tuesday, October 8</strong> 2.15pm – South Africa v Canada <strong>Wednesday, October 9</strong> 8.45am – Argentina v United States 11.15am – Scotland v Russia 1.45pm – Wales v Fiji <strong>Friday, October 11</strong> 2.15pm – Australia v Georgia <strong>Saturday, October 12</strong> 8.45am – New Zealand v Italy 12.15pm – England v France 2.45pm – Ireland v Samoa <strong>Sunday, October 13</strong> 7.15am – Namibia v Canada 9.45am – United States v Tonga 12.15pm – Wales v Uruguay 2.45pm – Japan v Scotland <strong>Saturday, October 19</strong> 11.15am – Quarterfinal 1: Winner Pool C v Runner up Pool D 2.15pm – Quarterfinal 2: Winner Pool B v Runner up Pool A <strong>Sunday, October 20</strong> 11.15am – Quarterfinal 3: Winner Pool D v Runner up Pool C 2.15pm – Quarterfinal 4: Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B <strong>Saturday, October 26</strong> 12pm – Semifinal 1: Winner quarterfinal 1 v Winner quarterfinal 2 <strong>Sunday, October 27</strong> 1pm – Semifinal 2: Winner quarterfinal 3 v Winner quarterfinal 4 <strong>Friday, November 1</strong> 1pm – Bronze final <strong>Saturday, November 2</strong> 1pm - Final 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)
