IRB Expects Record Audience for Women’s Rugby World Cup

The Women’s Rugby World Cup is set to be broadcast to more homes and countries than ever before, the International Rugby Board has revealed.

With just one week before the tournament kicks off in Paris, fans in 138 territories around the globe will be able to watch the pinnacle of the women’s fifteens game from France.

The competition, which runs from August 1-17, will be beamed to a potential 289 million homes across the globe, with 306 hours of live Rugby broadcast, more than any previous Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The pool stages will be played at FFR headquarters in Marcoussis, with the semi-finals and final to be played at the newly re-developed Stade Jean Bouin in central Paris. New Zealand’s Black Ferns are out to retain their crown after beating England to win the coveted trophy in London in 2010.

Fifteen matches will be broadcast to a global audience by host broadcasters France TV and Eurosport over the five match days in the French capital, including all matches from pitch one in Marcoussis and all matches from Stade Jean Bouin.

International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The fact that millions of Rugby fans in almost 140 countries can watch Women’s Rugby World Cup is testament to how well the women’s Game has been developed in recent years.”

“It’s also fantastic that so many fans can access the matches on irb.com. We’re really looking forward to kick-off this time next week, as I believe this tournament will really raise the bar for women’s Rugby, and we have some classic matches in store.”