Rugby World Cup
New elite Nations League to launch, Rugby World Cup expanding in ‘significant’ calendar overhaul
World Rugby has today (Tuesday) approved the launch of a new competition for men’s international teams as part of a wide-ranging reform of the calendar that will also include an expansion of the World Cup to 24 teams in 2027.
England semi-final defeat peaks at 8.7m to give ITV biggest audience of year
ITV, the UK commercial broadcaster, recorded its biggest audience of 2023, as 8.7 million people tuned into watch the closing stages of England's dramatic defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
TF1 falls short of Rugby World Cup TV record as France head out
France's thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa drew the best audience of the year for commercial broadcaster TF1, but it was not enough to set a new all-time tournament viewership…
Court rejects challenge to MultiChoice’s RWC sublicensing terms
A legal challenge filed by South Africa’s eMedia Investments against the terms of pay-television operator MultiChoice’s Rugby World Cup sublicensing deal has failed after being struck from the roll at …
MultiChoice sued over RWC sublicensing, fails to negotiate Cricket World Cup deal
South Africa’s eMedia Investments has filed legal papers with Johannesburg’s High Court over the terms of pay-television broadcaster MultiChoice’s Rugby World Cup sublicensing deal which has precluded the m…
Vodafone extends with Irish Rugby in ‘fast-paced telco market’
Vodafone Ireland has extended its principal sponsorship of the Ireland men’s rugby team in a four-year deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).
RWC opener drives record figures for TF1
France’s 27-13 win over New Zealand in the opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup generated record viewing figures in the host country, vindicating the move by commercial broadcaster TF1 to hold on t…
SABC and SuperSport at impasse over Rugby World Cup deal
Public-service broadcaster the SABC has been unable to secure a sublicensing deal with pay-television broadcaster SuperSport for South Africa's matches at the forthcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup in France
World Rugby lights up dark markets with global streaming platform launch
World Rugby has moved to plug gaps in the sport's global reach through the launch of free streaming platform RugbyPass TV in time for next month's Rugby World Cup
Starzplay follows beIN as RWC rights-holder in Mena
The forthcoming Rugby World Cup in France is to be streamed exclusively in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) by Starzplay, the subscription video-on-demand OTT service in the region
Sky NZ brings Stuff into 2023 RWC fold
Sky New Zealand has announced that 12 matches from the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be simulcast on news platform Stuff, with the pay-television operator appearing to favour the tie-up plus coverage on its…
Record numbers expected in France for RWC 2023
The 100-day countdown to the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2023 is on, with the tournament on track to break attendance records, organisers have revealed
BBC retains exclusive Rugby World Cup audio rights
The BBC, the UK's public-service broadcaster, has acquired exclusive audio rights to this year's Rugby World Cup in France
Japan planning bids for 2035, 2037 Rugby World Cups
Japan is considering a bid to host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2035 as part of a plan that would also see it stage the women’s event in 2037.
Sky NZ to show free-to-air Rugby World Cup coverage on Prime
Pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand will broadcast 12 matches from this year’s Rugby World Cup on its free-to-air channel Prime.
Stanley appointed managing director of Australia’s 2027 Rugby World Cup
Chris Stanley has been named managing director of the local operating company for Australia’s men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Free-to-air and pay-TV mix retained in Japan’s Rugby World Cup TV deals
Broadcast rights to the Rugby World Cup have once again been split in Japan across free-to-air and pay television in deals for this year’s tournament with NHK, Nippon TV and J Sports.
Prosecutors raid headquarters of France 2023
The headquarters of the organising committee for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France have been raided by French police as part of an investigation into mismanagement at the organisation