Visiting Paris for the Rugby World Cup
Ireland play two group stage matches in the famous Stade de France, Saint Denis. We will meet South Africa on 23 September at 21.00 and Scotland on 7 October at 21.00.
Getting there
Paris is served by Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly, and Beauvais airports. From CDG you can take either the RER B city train or the shuttle bus into the city. Orly is served by the OrlyBus which takes about 30 minutes to get into the city centre. Alternatively, you can get the OrlyVal train which connects to the RER B city train. You can find more information and plan your itinerary on the RATP website.
Beauvais airport is the furthest from Paris. However, a regular shuttle service to Paris city centre is adapted to flight timetables. Tickets can be purchased here.
Paris is also well served by national and international trains, including links to ferry connections with Ireland.
Getting around
All public transport within Paris is run by the RATP and information on itineraries, tickets and traffic information can be found on their website here.
The basic T+ transport ticket for RER, metro, bus and tram costs €2.10. You can purchase tickets at any metro stop and machines will accept card or cash. Once validated, the T+ ticket allows you to make as many transfers as you want on the metro and RER networks for 90 minutes after the first validation.
The RATP watches carefully to ensure people are paying for their ticket fares and have an extensive system of plain clothes and conventional ticket inspectors. Make sure you buy the correct ticket and keep it on hand throughout your journey in case you’re asked to show it.
As in all major cities, you should remain vigilant and beware of pickpockets. Keep your phone and wallet out of sight and certainly do not carry them in the back of your jeans! Use a bag that closes firmly, and make sure you keep it shut.
Getting to the match
The Stade de France is served by RER B, RER D and metro lines 12 and 13. You can also get Trams T1 or T8 to Saint Denis Basilique.
The best way to get to the stadium by public transportation is to take metro line 13 and get off at Saint Denis Porte de Paris. Pay close attention to the destination shown on the metro because the line forks into two different destinations. Make sure you are traveling towards Saint Denis and not Asnieres.
Remember to leave plenty of time to travel to the match – you’re better off getting there early to soak in the atmosphere than rushing to the stadium and losing something important.
Top tip: when you buy your ticket to the stadium, make sure to purchase a return or a second metro ticket. That way, you’ll avoid the scrum for tickets on the way back into town.
Rugby Village
The rugby village in central Paris will be at Place de la Concorde and will be open from 14:00 – 23:30 at weekends during the tournament. Access will be on a first come first serve basis. Getting to the rugby village couldn’t be easier, it is a very central location and you can plan your travel on the RATP website. The fan zone has a capacity of 15,000 people and will fill up quickly!
There will also be a rugby village in Saint Denis, a thirty-minute walk from the Stade de France. This fan zone is tailored to ticket holders and will host activities and entertainment prior to kick-off. It’s a great option for fans wanting to avoid the rush out of Paris before the game!
Saint Denis rugby village has a maximum capacity of about 10,000 fans and will be located just outside the City Hall and the Cathedral.
Stay connected
As well as remembering your adaptor, and following us @irlembparis, why not use this opportunity to link in with the Irish community here in France? The Irish in France group will be organising meet-ups throughout the Rugby World Cup and membership will bring you discounts in the match cities.
The Centre Culturel Irlandais is Ireland’s cultural flagship in Europe and will host a range of events during the tournament. Why not check out ‘Jouez ! Jouez !’, an open-air exhibition that retraces 120 years of Ireland’s rugby relationship with France? The exhibition debuts in the courtyard of the CCI on 15 September.