The countdown is on for the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France after Emirates unveiled its latest flagship Airbus A380 special livery.
Designed in-house, the A380 (A6-EOE) sports the Rugby World Cup 2023 theme. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Dubai-based airline has sponsored the Rugby World Cup.
Emirates’ Rugby World Cup history
The airline has been a tournament sponsor of Rugby World Cup since 2007 and became a Worldwide Partner in 2011 when the host nation, New Zealand, won the tournament.
Image: Emirates
Emirates unveiled its first ever Rugby World Cup livery in 2011 on an A380, A6-EDN, which operated more than 40 flights throughout the Rugby World Cup period that year.
In 2015, Emirates once again showed support for the sporting event with its A380 A6-EDA dressed in the Rugby World Cup livery as it ferried passengers to various destinations, including the host nation that year, England.
The Dubai-based airline continued the tradition in 2019 by designing a new livery for Rugby World Cup hosted by Japan.
As the Official Airline of Rugby World Cup France 2023 and Australia 2027, Emirates will fly fans traveling to the host nations. The airline said that its investment in the sport as a Worldwide Partner will help support rugby’s development in both emerging and established markets, while fans will be able to watch every moment from Rugby World Cups live and on-demand from their flight seats.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place in France from September 8 to October 28, 2023 in nine venues across the country. It is the first Rugby World Cup to take place in France.