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A ‘landmark’ deal has been officially announced ahead of next year’s tournament
World Rugby has officially announced that ITV will become the exclusive UK broadcast partner for next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, with every moment of the tournament to be shown free-to-air.
The broadcaster has already become the home of international rugby in the UK, having bought the live rights for every game of the first two Nations Championships. ITV also already shows two-thirds of Six Nations games – including every England fixture – as part of a joint broadcast deal with the BBC.
Following the success of its coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year, the BBC was reportedly interested in securing another joint deal with ITV for the men’s edition next year.
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However, with ITV determined to secure the exclusive rights, the BBC’s bid has not succeeded and an agreement has now been reached, with the “landmark” ITV deal with World Rugby the largest yet for the tournament organisers.
The agreement ensures that all 52 matches from the expanded World Cup will be available to watch live and free for UK audiences, with “extensive highlights, analysis and digital content” across ITV, ITVX and ITV Sport’s YouTube page.
Featuring 24 teams for the first time, the tournament will be the largest ever, with a new round of 16 stage also introduced.
Marking the 40th anniversary of the first Rugby World Cup, the competition will kick off on October 1 next year and run until the final on November 13, with the action being held across seven host cities.
As the agreement was officially announced on Monday, ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane said: “This is a monumental deal for audiences across the UK delivering coverage on ITV of the biggest rugby tournament.
“We’ve enjoyed a long standing partnership with World Rugby and this will continue to thrive. This partnership further secures ITV as the home of rugby adding to our extensive portfolio and commitment of rugby coverage across ITV1, ITVX and ITV Sport YouTube.”
World Rugby Chief Executive, Alan Gilpin added: “This is much more than a new agreement with a trusted partner, it is a statement of intent to ensure that everyone in the UK can experience and be inspired by one of the world’s iconic sporting events, its action, drama and personalities.
“ITV’s passion for rugby, commitment to innovation and ability to tell the stories that define Rugby World Cup have been central to the tournament’s success in the UK for more than 30 years, and will again be a major feature of Australia 2027, with every minute of every match available for UK fans.
“Australia 2027 will be a landmark moment for rugby. With 24 teams, more matches, more stories and more opportunities for emerging nations to shine on the world stage, the tournament will power a new era for the game,” Gilpin continued.
“Together with ITV, we look forward to bringing every unforgettable moment to everyone across the UK as we invite the world to go all out for Rugby World Cup 2027.”
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