ITV secures broadcasting rights for 2027 Rugby World Cup
ITV has won the race to broadcast the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, clinching exclusive free-to-air rights for the entire tournament across the United Kingdom, reports BritPanorama.
The deal, announced on Monday, encompasses all 52 fixtures in what will be the largest edition of the tournament to date. This agreement marks a significant milestone, being the biggest broadcast deal in World Rugby’s history.
The BBC had aspired to secure a joint arrangement with ITV, buoyed by its well-received coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year. However, ITV’s determination to maintain sole broadcasting privileges ultimately prevailed, closing the door on any shared deal.
Next year’s tournament is set to feature a substantial expansion, with 24 nations competing for the first time in the event’s history. The introduction of a fresh round of 16 knockout phase is designed to accommodate the enlarged field. Matches will take place across seven Australian host cities, starting on 1 October 2027 and culminating in the final on 13 November.
The occasion bears considerable symbolic weight, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the inaugural Rugby World Cup. With additional matches and a broader pool of competing nations, the tournament is expected to usher in a transformative chapter for the sport on the global stage. ITV’s Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, hailed the agreement as a watershed moment. “This is a monumental deal for audiences across the UK delivering coverage on ITV of the biggest rugby tournament,” he stated, underlining the broadcaster’s partnership with World Rugby that dates back to 1991.
Furthermore, ITV’s rugby portfolio is extensive. The broadcaster has live rights to every fixture in the Nations Championship for both 2026 and 2028, in addition to showcasing two-thirds of men’s Six Nations matches, including all of England’s games, under a shared arrangement with the BBC. The agreement also includes warm-up internationals ahead of the World Cup, ensuring that every England men’s fixture up to the tournament’s conclusion will be broadcast on ITV.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin described the arrangement as “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.” The partnership is anticipated to power a new era for the game, featuring coverage across ITV’s linear channels, its streaming platform ITVX, and its YouTube presence.
As the sporting landscape evolves, this deal underscores ITV’s commitment to rugby, further embedding the sport within the fabric of British broadcasting. With the World Cup on the horizon, expect the anticipation to build, showcasing rugby’s growing prominence within the national sporting dialogue.
