Remember, remember this sporting September

Guess what arrives this month - a beautifully packaged Rugby World Cup!

Yes, the Boks are in France to defend their crown, and you can catch every single minute of every game live on SuperSport....

But time, tide and sport wait for no one, so there is plenty of other action if rugby is not your thing.

For confirmed TV times and channels, please check out the TV guide closer to the times, but for now here are the 'best ofs' for September 2023 on your World of Champions.

--------- FOOTBALL - UCL, PL, MTN8 ---------

UEFA Champions League

The UEFA Champions League returns with some appetising clashes on 19 and 20 September. Newcastle United get a taste of European football when they travel to Milan on matchweek one. Two standout fixtures the following day (20 September) will see Man United’s European football credentials tested at Bayern Munich while Arsenal will be at home to PSV.

Premier League

There will be no shortage of drama in the Premier League with each fixture almost guaranteed to produce some fireworks – notably Arsenal v Tottenham (24 September) and Tottenham v Liverpool (30 September). There will be a SA reunion of sorts when Burnley host Man United (23 September) when Lyle Foster meets his childhood idol Benni McCarthy, now responsible for fine-tuning the Man United attack.

MTN8 semifinals

The semifinal clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs is evenly balanced (1-1 from the first leg) and is likely to provide more drama in the second leg (23 September) in Pretoria. On the other Orlando Pirates appear to have one foot in the final (2-1 from the first leg) and will hope to finish the job in Orlando on 24 September.

 --------- RUGBY WORLD CUP ---------

The 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on Friday, 8 September, with the home side taking on another tournament favourite in New Zealand.

The Springboks will open their account on the Sunday when they take on a dangerous Scotland outfit in the Pool of Death.

Key matches (all times CAT)

Friday, 8 Sept
France v New Zealand, 9:15pm

Saturday, 9 Sept
England v Argentina , 9pm

Sunday, 10 Sept
SA v Scotland, 5:45pm

Sunday, 17 Sept
England v Japan, 5pm

Saturday, 23 Sept
SA v Ireland , 9pm

Sunday, 24 Sept
Wales v Australia, 9pm

Sunday, 1 Oct
SA v Tonga, 9pm

Saturday, 7 Oct
Ireland v Scotland, 9pm

Sunday, 8 Oct
Japan v Argentina, 1pm

--------- CRICKET ---------

While the Australians completed a 3-0 sweep of the T20s in Durban, it'll be the ODIs where all the focus lies ahead of the World Cup in India next month.

South Africa, who have won the last eight ODIs at home against Australia, will face them in five one-dayers, with both sides looking to use the opportunity to fine-tune their elite players.

Thursday, 07 September: 1st ODI Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Saturday, 09 September: 2nd ODI Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Tuesday, 12 September: 3rd ODI JB Marks, Potchefstroom
Friday, 15 September: 4th ODI SuperSport Park, Pretoria
Sunday, 17 September: 5th ODI DP World Wanderers, Joburg

The Proteas women are currently on tour in Pakistan, with three ODIs between 8-14 September.

Following this tour, the Proteas will welcome New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20s. South Africa are currently ranked third in ODIs and New Zealand fifth, and both teams will look to improve their world rankings. This will be Proteas first home series since the T20 World Cup earlier in the year.

Pakistan - away
Friday, 8 September - 1st ODI
Monday, 11 September - 2nd ODI
Thursday, 14 September - 3rd ODI

New Zealand - home
Sunday, 24 September 2023: 1st ODI JB Marks, Potchefstroom
Thursday, 28 September 2023: 2nd ODI Pietermaritzburg Oval

 --------- TENNIS - US Open ---------

All eyes will be on the two biggest names in tennis - Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic - and whether they can deliver another classic final like they did at Wimbledon.

On the women's side it will be American sweetheart Coco Gauff who will be hogging the headlines, but world No 1 in waiting Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to take a title into the start of her reign at the top.

Women's final: 9 Sept, 10pm CAT
Men's final: 10 Sept, 10pm CAT

--------- MOTOGP ---------

San Marino: 10 Sept
India: 24 Sept

 --------- ATHLETICS - Diamond League ---------

Two more events in which the athletes can strut their incredible stuff. The final qualifier in Brussels, before the Finals in Eugene, Oregon.

Diamond League BRUSSELS – 8th September
Diamond League EUGENE – 16-17 September

--------- F1 ---------

Singapore: 17 Sept
Japan: 24 Sept

--------- GOLF - Europe v US --------- 

Everyone's favourite golf event takes place this month - the always colourful, overly passionate and downright intriguing Ryder Cup.

This year they head to Rome and the Marco Simone course, which will no doubt be set up to favour the Europeans, just as it was in Paris four years ago.

McIlroy, Rahm, Hovland and co will be taking on the might of Scheffler, Koepka, Spieth, Thomas and the rest as the US looks to win on European soil for the first time since 1993.

Ryder Cup: 29 Sept - 1 October