More than 15 million viewers followed Friday from 9 p.m. on TF1 the opening match of the Blues at the Rugby World Cup-2023 against New Zealand (27-13), a better score than the debut of the Blues at the World Cup 2022 football.

15.408 million oval ball fans watched the match at the Stade de France on Friday, according to Médiamétrie data published on Saturday morning. The Blues’ first football match against Australia in November 2022 brought together 12.5 million viewers.

TF1, which shares the broadcast of the world championship with France Télévisions and M6, achieved an audience share of 64.5% during this meeting. Compared to 2019, this world championship is off to a spectacular start for the headlines.

In September 2019, only 4.3 million spectators followed the match between France and Argentina at the start of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, broadcast at a less favorable time, in the morning, due to the time difference.

In November 2019, 5 million viewers followed the final of this world championship which saw the coronation of South Africa against England.