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.
The deal, announced on Monday, covers all 52 fixtures in what will be the largest edition of the competition to date. It represents the biggest broadcast agreement in World Rugby’s history.
The BBC had hoped 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 hold sole broadcasting privileges proved decisive, shutting the door on any shared deal.
ITV have beaten the BBC to sole rights of the Rugby World Cup
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Next year’s tournament marks a significant expansion, with 24 nations competing for the first time in the event’s history. A fresh round of 16 knockout phase has been added to accommodate the enlarged field.
The action will unfold across seven Australian host cities, commencing on 1 October 2027 and culminating in the final on 13 November.
The occasion carries particular symbolic weight, falling on the 40th anniversary of the inaugural Rugby World Cup.
With additional matches, a broader pool of competing nations, and greater opportunities for emerging rugby powers, the tournament promises 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 said, noting that the broadcaster’s relationship with World Rugby stretches back to 1991.
The Rugby World Cup will kick off in Australia next year
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“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,” Sloane added.
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.”
Beyond the World Cup, ITV’s rugby portfolio is formidable. The broadcaster holds live rights to every fixture in the Nations Championship for both 2026 and 2028, whilst also showing two-thirds of men’s Six Nations matches — including all of England’s games — under a shared arrangement with the BBC.
The agreement additionally encompasses warm-up internationals ahead of the tournament, meaning every England men’s fixture through to the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup will be available on ITV.
Gilpin emphasised that the partnership would help “power a new era for the game,” with coverage spanning ITV’s linear channels, its streaming platform ITVX, and its YouTube presence.
