ITV to Air Rugby World Cup Exclusively to 2023

LONDON: ITV has secured the rights to broadcast the Rugby World Cup exclusively in the U.K. to 2023.

The broadcaster clinched rights to air both men’s and women’s tournaments. This builds on a previous agreement for ITV to air the Rugby World Cup exclusively for the next two tournaments.

The two-event deal extends ITV’s long-running partnership with the sport’s event and will also see the broadcaster show the women’s Rugby World Cup this year, as well as the World Rugby U20 Championship between 2017 and 2019. This marks the first time that the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the World Rugby U20 Championship will be available in the U.K. on free-to-air television.

Niall Sloane, ITV’s director of sport, said: “The Rugby World Cup has become a fixture every four years on ITV, so, following such a successful tournament in 2015, we’re delighted to be able to announce we will continue to be the competition’s home until 2023. And our new deal kicks off with exclusive coverage of the Women’s tournament in Ireland later this year, which, along with the rights to World Rugby U20 Championship, broadens our association with elite rugby.”

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted to be partnering with ITV in an exciting long-term deal that will showcase our biggest fifteens events, including Rugby World Cup, Women’s Rugby World Cup and our annual World Rugby U20 Championship, to a free-to-air audience in the U.K.

“Rugby World Cup 2015 set new standards of rugby broadcast innovation and delivery, providing a record number of fans in a record number of nations with every unforgettable moment from the most compelling and competitive tournament to date.

“As host broadcaster, ITV was at the heart of the success story, bringing fans closer to what was the best-attended, most-viewed, most-competitive and most socially-engaged Rugby World Cup ever and while this was a highly-competitive process for one of rugby’s most prized broadcast rights, we were impressed by ITV’s passion for the sport and continued broadcast innovation.

“Great events are built on great partnerships and we are excited to be working with ITV, a long-term supporter of Rugby World Cup, to further fan experience and rugby growth within the U.K. over the next eight years.”