On Friday, September 8, 2023, at 8:00 PM, the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick off two months of competition with the curtain-raiser match between France and New Zealand. To mark this occasion, the pilots of the French Air Force’s Patrouille de France will perform a flyover above the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, extending to the Place de la Concorde, where the “rugby village” dedicated to the fan zone will be located. They will leave a tricolor trail representing the largest French flag in the Parisian sky.
The opening ceremony, expected to draw over 80,000 spectators, will spotlight France and its values, as underscored by the Patrouille de France during an exceptional flight.
Throughout this significant event, the French Air and Space Force will be mobilized to ensure the security of the airspace in the Paris region and the eight other host cities of the competition.