2023 14.68g France Silver 2023 14.68g France Silver 200 Years of Rugby PP PP

In 2023, France will host its second Rugby World Cup, following the 2007 tournament. This competition is the most prestigious rugby tournament in the world, and has been held every four years since 1987.  To prepare for this major sporting event, Monnaie de Paris, in collaboration with Rugby World Cup 2023, has launched a series of collector coins celebrating the sport.

The year 2023 is of dual significance for rugby: beyond the International Competition, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of this iconic sport. Legend has it that rugby was born in 1823 at Rugby City College in England, when William Webb Ellis started running with the ball in his arms during a game of football. This series celebrates this sport that has now become unmissable in a vast part of the world.

Oval in shape, in reference to the rugby ball, the obverse of the coin shows three rugby players in profile at different times. They are in action "together" through time. The leftmost player represents William Webb Ellis, inventor of rugby in 1823, running with the ball under his arm. The second player is still running with the ball clutched to him. Under his feet is the date 1923. The last player is a nowadays player throwing himself to the ground to score a try.

The reverse side shows the Webb Ellis Trophy, which the winner of the Rugby World Cup 2023 will have the pleasure of holding up. On the left of the cup is the inscription RF and the logo of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, and on the right the face value. The phrase "Rugby World Cup France 2023" appears all around the design.