The South region hopes for the repercussions of the Rugby World Cup

Ten matches of the competition will be held in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The region hopes to elicit more than €2 billion in economic benefits.

The South region is showing its ambitions for the Rugby World Cup. The event, which will be held in France for more than a year, is eagerly awaited by supporters but also elected officials from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur who hope for significant economic benefits.

Ten matches in the South District

The region will largely take its place in this World Cup with ten of the 48 matches taking place within the region. Six matches will be played at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille while the other four will be played at the Allianz Riviera in Nice.

Four national teams will establish their base camp in the southeastern cities of the country. The 15th edition of France is set to take place in Aix-en-Provence while world champions South Africa will be held in Toulon during the tournament. The Scots will live near Nice. Finally, the Uruguayan team chose to settle in Avignon.

The southern region intends to take advantage of these matches and the presence of rugby stars to attract many French and foreign tourists in particular. During a conference in Marseille on Tuesday, the president of the Southern Region Regional Tourism Commission, François de Canson, welcomed the region’s strong participation in this World Cup and the beneficial consequences that the event would bring.

“It is an undeniable economic success for the region. When we have 480,000 foreign visitors coming to the region, when we have been working there since 2016, when we have had a rugby plan since 2019, when we put in five million euros at the district level, we want to succeed ‘, excited by the Var’s elected representative with a BFM Marseille microphone.

€2.4 billion in expected economic benefits

The Provence Alpes-Côte d’Azur is aiming for €2.4 billion in economic benefits, thanks in particular to the presence of foreign tourists. Nice city also hopes The event will create or support 17,000 jobs.

To achieve these goals, Regional rugby plan launched More than three years ago. A budget of several million euros has been allocated, mainly for investments in sports facilities and to promote the organization of major events such as the World Cup.

500,000 euros are planned to promote this event. The region is also reaching out to tour operators from major rugby-loving countries, such as South Africa, to bring their supporters to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. The stated goal is to attract and keep tourists in the area between matches.

“We are the leading tourist area in France to welcome foreign customers, so I think today we have the opportunity to show once again that we are ready, that we are working together. There is something for everyone, so everyone will benefit from this rugby plan and the World Cup,” promises François de Canson.

Amateur Rugby Festival in Digne-les-Bains

Par ailleurs, les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence comptent bien aussi participer à la fête du rugby en septembre 2023. En parallèle de la Coupe du monde, o s’affronteront les meilleures nations, le festival du rugby à amateur seigndra bathrooms.

The city club hopes to share this event with all its residents, which will once again bring together players from all over the world.

“The idea is really to get everyone involved, and that means schools will be able to welcome New Zealand players (…) to be able to discover a country, and get involved all over the world,” explained Jeremy Tessier, president of Dignois Rugby Club with BFM DICI last January. .

But at the start of the Rugby World Cup, we still have to wait. The competition will start on September 8, 2023 and end over a month later on October 20.