A report today suggests that the Rugby World Cup in the UK might move behind a paywall starting in 2027, as World Rugby explores ways to boost broadcast revenue for its premier event.
According to the UK government’s list of protected ‘crown jewel’ events, only the final of the tournament is required to be shown on free-to-air (FTA) television. Despite this, all editions of the tournament to date have been available on FTA, with ITV taking over from the BBC in 1991.
Historically, World Rugby has declined offers from pay-TV broadcasters like Sky Sports, opting instead for the broader audience provided by terrestrial channels.
Alan Gilpin, World Rugby’s chief executive, told The Telegraph that the rise of popular streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime presents an opportunity to rethink their approach, potentially combining reach and revenue.
Gilpin emphasized that reach would always be the foundation of their strategy but acknowledged the necessity of revenue for the sport’s continued growth.
“Can we achieve that in a way that generates the revenue we need to keep investing in the sport’s growth?” Gilpin said. “Like any sports event owner, we need to strike a balance across different markets.
“There’s no doubt that free TV and partners like ITV, who have been fantastic partners for us, will remain a part of that future. We want to reach audiences who wouldn’t otherwise subscribe to watch rugby.”
England set to play Wales at expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup
During the draw, the 24 participating teams will be divided into six pools, each consisting of four teams. Notably, this draw will transpire before the regional qualifiers have concluded, resulting in a dual-world approach.
On one side, we have the twelve automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, confirmed by their names. On the other side, the regional qualifiers will be represented as Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, and so forth.
Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to be hosted in Australia, marking the eleventh edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup and the third time it will take place in Australia. The country previously co-hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and served as the sole host in 2003.
With the current World Rankings in mind, let’s delve into how the 2027 Rugby World Cup will shape up via Rugby Centre.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Spain
POOL B
- Ireland
- Australia
- Georgia
- Romania
