Rugby reaches new heights – Sport 24 to broadcast upcoming world cups

IMG’s inflight and in ship sports channel, Sport 24, today announced a deal with World Rugby to broadcast Rugby World Cup 2021 (played in 2022) and Rugby World Cup 2023.

As rugby fans gear up for an action-packed year, Sport 24 will deliver live coverage from two of the sport’s biggest international tournaments to airlines and cruise ships across the world. The deal will kick-off with the much-awaited Rugby World Cup 2021, hosted by defending champions New Zealand from 8 October to 12 November 2022. Sport 24 will broadcast 38 hours of live coverage as the world’s best women rugby players face-off for the coveted title.

The deal will also see Sport 24 broadcast 112 live hours across 56 games of the Rugby World Cup 2023. Scheduled to take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023, this will be the tenth edition of the quadrennial world championship for men’s rugby.

Sport 24 is the home of world cup sport, having recently announced coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 alongside both the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 competitions taking place this Autumn.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: ”We are delighted to have Sport 24 join the family of broadcasters for our men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups. Rugby World Cup 2021 will be a record-breaking celebration of the best of women’s rugby, starting with a 40,000 world record attendance for a women’s rugby match at Eden Park this Saturday. The excitement will continue to grow and partnering with Sport 24 means that fans won’t miss a minute no matter where they are!”

Richard Wise, SVP, Content and Channels for IMG’s media business, said: “We are delighted to partner with World Rugby in an exciting and pivotal year for the sport. As rugby’s popularity continues to surge around the globe, we look forward to playing our role in expanding the reach and viewership of the sport through our unmatched inflight and in-ship live coverage of the next two World Cups.”

Sport 24 is available on Panasonic’s market-leading live television service, which is broadcast via satellite. Launched in 2012, both Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra are produced from IMG’s production HQ at Stockley Park, near London’s Heathrow Airport. Sport 24 also shows live action from the – Premier League, UEFA Champions & Europa League, ICC Cricket World Cups, NBA, NHL, NFL (Inflight Only), golf’s Majors, tennis’ Grand Slams and more.