France won the correct to host the 2007 World Cup in 2003. And it was subsequently announced that four matches would be held inside Wales, at Cardiff's 74,500 seats Millennium Stadium. Ireland was to contain hosted matches at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, but opted out because the stadium was being redeveloped. Two Pool C matches were played at Edinburgh's Murray field Stadium. There had been speculation that the SRU (Scottish Rugby Union) was having doubts about hosting these games and that the Welsh Rugby Union might be interested in hosting them but the SRU confirmed in April ‘2006’ that the games would be played at Murray sports ground.
There was a substantial increase in the over-all ability of stadiums compared to the 2003 Rugby World Cup the smallest place at the 2007 tournament could seat 33,900 people. The French venues were the same as those used for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Around 6,000 volunteers helped to organize the rivalry. Although the 2007 contest was the 1st to be hosted first and foremost by France, a number of matches during the 1991 and 1999 tournaments were played in France, In 1991, matches in Pool D were played in Bezier, Bayonne, Granola, Toulouse, Brave and Agene, while Pac des Princes and Stadium Lillie Metro pole each hosted a quarter-final. Similarly, in 1999, fixtures in Pool C (which included France) were played in Bezier, Bordeaux and Toulouse. State Felix Collaret was the venue for one of the quarter-final play-offs, and State de France hosted a quarterfinal.
