ITV confirmed as 2027 Rugby World Cup broadcaster
ITV has been confirmed as the UK broadcaster for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, marking its tenth successive tournament covering the event. The deal continues ITV's long association with the competition, having held rights to every men's Rugby World Cup since 1991, and comes alongside its existing coverage of the Nations Championship and most Six Nations fixtures through to 2029, ensuring England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland matches remain free-to-air across that period.
All 52 matches of the 2027 tournament, which expands to 24 teams with a new last-16 knockout round, will be shown live on ITV. World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin called the agreement "a statement of intent" to make the tournament accessible and inspiring for UK audiences. The tournament kicks off on 1 October 2027, with hosts Australia facing Hong Kong in the opening match.
- ITV to broadcast all 52 matches of 2027 Rugby World Cup live
- Tenth consecutive tournament covered by ITV since 1991
- Tournament expands to 24 teams, starts 1 October 2027 in Australia
New here? Start with this
The Rugby World Cup is rugby union's premier international tournament, contested by the world's leading national teams and held every four years. The 2027 edition will take place in Australia starting on 1 October, with 24 teams competing—making it the largest tournament format to date.
Broadcasting rights for major sporting tournaments determine how widely events are watched and whether fans can access them freely or only through paid subscription services. In the UK, having matches of the home nations—England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—broadcast on free-to-air television is particularly significant for accessibility. ITV has held the broadcasting rights to every men's Rugby World Cup since 1991, giving it a long-standing relationship with the competition.
The 2027 tournament will feature a new format with a last-16 knockout round, allowing more teams to progress beyond the initial group stages and creating a larger overall competition.