As Official Sponsor and Official Telecom Operator of the Rugby World Cup 2023, Orange is taking on an unprecedented technological challenge to make this Rugby World Cup a global success, both inside and outside the stadiums. 

Sharing the power of rugby in stadiums and beyond 

Orange teams have been working hard for more than two years and a half to connect the Rugby World Cup 2023 and enable as many fans as possible to experience the excitement of rugby around the world. Orange is connecting television broadcasters to 850 million viewers via a secure, ultra-high-speed Broadcast Contribution Network.

In addition to video transmission, Orange is providing all the connectivity required for the tournament. From the International Broadcast Center (IBC) to the France 2023 Organising Committee headquarters, including all remote sites, a unified and simplified native IP architecture will be deployed for the organizers and all partners. This solution improves the performance and efficiency of the telecommunications solutions. The fixed telephony will also be based on 100% IP solutions.

Orange puts its innovation to work for rugby

Orange has used virtual reality for the French national team with the Touche Augmentée (Augmented Lineouts) system. This innovation was specifically designed to help players improve their lineout technique. Touche Augmentée will be available to try out at the Rugby Villages in Lyon, Nantes, Paris and Toulouse.

The power of Orange's networks in the stadiums and Rugby Villages will also allow fans to enjoy two augmented reality experiences, thanks to highly realistic 3D modeling, for images that look just like the real thing. 

A Rugby World Cup 2023 with a low environmental impact

Orange is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of the network infrastructure used for the competition. All the equipment needed to connect this World Cup will be reused for other events or left in place permanently. 

France 2023, in partnership with Orange and with the support of the Monnaie de Paris, will present medals made from discarded telephones to the participants of the Rugby World Cup 2023. Precious metals from over 200,000 phones have been recycled to create the 1,491 medals that will be presented to the players. 

Caroline Guillaumin, Executive Director of Group Communications said:  "Orange is proud to be a partner of this major event, which will involve 700 of our employees. For us, this is both a technical and an environmental challenge. This Rugby World Cup 2023 is an opportunity to innovate, test and reinvent ourselves. We're also working with a number of startups to provide an enhanced digital sports experience for all audiences - athletes, partners and, most importantly, fans." 

Between now and the competition, the Orange Rugby Team will be interacting with rugby fans on social media, allowing them to discover exclusive and original content (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

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06/09/2023

About Orange

About Orange Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. The Group aims to be the trusted partner for everyday digital life by providing individuals, businesses and communities with reliable connectivity and innovative services. As of the end of 2025, Orange connects 340 million customers (including MasOrange) across 26 countries and generated 40.4 billion euros in revenues.
As a trusted player, Orange leverages the excellence of its very high-speed broadband networks to deploy digital infrastructure in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Group is a European leader in fiber, with 100 million connectable households, and convergent offers. In France, Orange connects 34 million customers and was ranked No. 1 by the regulator Arcep for the quality of its mobile network for the 15th consecutive year. In Africa and the Middle East, the Group’s growth engine, Orange serves nearly 180 million customers and promotes digital and financial inclusion through its connected solutions.
Under the Orange Business brand, the Group supports companies in transforming their networks as well as in AI, trusted cloud and cybersecurity. Orange is also a major player in the wholesale market, where it has a leading global telecom infrastructure and significant capabilities for deploying and operating submarine cables. A committed innovator, Orange relies on 700 researchers and holds a portfolio of 11,000 patents.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). More information: www.orange.com. 

Orange and any other Orange product or service names mentioned in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.