Warm atmosphere at the Stade de France before the first match of the World Cup between France and New Zealand this Friday evening (9:15 p.m., live commentary). A few moments after the spectacle of the opening ceremony, Emmanuel Macron presented himself on a lectern alongside the president of World Rugby, Bill Beaumont. The head of state was booed by a large part of the public. Only applause concluded his speech when he declared the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup open.
“Friends of rugby, for all of us, we French, it is an immense pride to welcome all the Rugby World Cup teams and our Blues to our soil,” Macron said. This World Cup, France hopes to win it on the field. She hopes to win her hearts. With our taste for hospitality, the quality of our equipment, our audiences, France will be the playing field for all three halves. In rugby, the world knows our French flair, this year, we are going to show our “French share”. It’s time to play, I declare the tenth Rugby World Cup open. »
