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Water breaks in both halves in Rugby World Cup matches this weekend because of hot weather in France

France rugby team players attend a training session on the eve of their Rugby World Cup Pool A match against New Zealand, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (Christophe Ena, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

PARIS – There will be water breaks at all matches on the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup, organizers said on Friday.

That includes the opening match — France vs. New Zealand in Paris on Friday.

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The breaks will take place during both halves “at a natural break in play,” World Rugby said.

Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in Paris over the weekend, and 35 (95) on Saturday in Bordeaux, where Ireland play Romania.

“The process has operated at previous Rugby World Cups and across rugby more broadly when temperatures are hot or humid,” the governing body added.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby