Sky Sports to Broadcast Women’s Rugby World Cup

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that Sky Sports will be the UK rights-holding broadcaster for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup and IRB Junior World Championship. 

The announcement extends Sky Sports’ partnership with two of the most exciting properties in world Rugby, having inspired and engaged global audiences with its host broadcasting of the record-breaking Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010.

Sky Sports will again broadcast the pinnacle of the Women’s Game, which will be held in Paris from August 1-17.

It will also broadcast matches live from New Zealand in June, as Auckland hosts the IRB Junior World Championship from June 2-20, the final of which will be held at the iconic Eden Park.

With levels of participation in the Women’s Game at an all time high, and just days before International Women’s Day, it’s further good news for one of the fastest growing sports in the World.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Sky Sports are renowned for their passion and support for Rugby and we are delighted to be extending our partnership with a broadcaster who shares our vision for women’s and age grade Rugby.”

“It’s also further proof of the great leaps made by the Women’s Game. In a Women’s Rugby World Cup year and with the growth of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, it’s good to see the Game reaching out to new audiences.”

Sky Sport managing director Barney Francis said: “It’s fantastic that this summer we will have the best women’s Rugby on Sky, adding to our strong year-round portfolio of women’s sport.”

“It’s also great news that we’ll get to showcase the future stars of world Rugby in the Junior World Championship across our channels. Both tournaments are going to be excellent additions to our unrivalled coverage of the Game and our summer of live sport.”

Sky Sports will show pool stage matches plus the semi-finals and final of both tournaments.