Factbox: World Cup 2023: schedule, teams, past winners and betting odds

Aug 30 (Reuters) - The 2023 Rugby World Cup begins on Sept. 8 with host nation France taking on New Zealand.

The following is a look at the pools, schedule, past winners and betting odds for the tournament, which will crown its champions on Oct. 28:

The Rugby World Cup begins with 20 teams divided into four pools of five.

POOL A: France (hosts), New Zealand, Italy, Uruguay, Namibia

POOL B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Tonga, Romania

POOL C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal

POOL D: England, Japan, Argentina, Samoa, Chile

SCHEDULE (all times GMT)

PAST WINNERS

There have been nine previous editions of the Rugby World Cup. New Zealand and South Africa have both won the tournament three times.

1987 New Zealand beat France 29-9

1991 Australia beat England 12-6

1995 South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12

1999 Australia beat France 35-12

2003 England beat Australia 20-17

2007 South Africa beat England 15-6

2011 New Zealand beat France 8-7

2015 New Zealand beat Australia 34-17

2019 South Africa beat England 32-12

BETTING ODDS

* New Zealand - 11/4

* France - 3/1

* South Africa - 7/2

* Ireland - 9/2

* Australia - 12/1

BET365

* New Zealand - 11/4

* France - 3/1

* South Africa - 7/2

* Ireland - 9/2

* Australia - 10/1

)

Compiled by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford