ITV remains the home of the Men's Rugby World Cup in the UK

All 52 matches from Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV in the United Kingdom following a landmark agreement between World Rugby and ITV.

ITV has been unveiled as the exclusive UK broadcast partner, continuing the station’s longstanding commitment to the third biggest sporting event in the world, which dates back to the second edition of the tournament in 1991.

The announcement comes soon after the southern hemisphere series of the Nations Championship, which was given blanket treatment by ITV.

ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane said: “This is a monumental deal for audiences across the UK delivering coverage on ITV of the biggest rugby tournament. We’ve enjoyed a longstanding partnership with World Rugby and this will continue to thrive. This partnership further secures ITV as the home of rugby adding to our extensive portfolio and commitment of rugby coverage across ITV1, ITVX and ITV Sport YouTube.”

Rugby World Cup 2027 runs from October 1 to November 13 and will be the biggest tournament yet, with 24 teams taking part.

World Rugby Chief Executive, Alan Gilpin said: “This is much more than a new agreement with a trusted partner, it is a statement of intent to ensure that everyone in the UK can experience and be inspired by one of the world’s iconic sporting events, its action, drama and personalities.

“ITV’s passion for rugby, commitment to innovation and ability to tell the stories that define Rugby World Cup have been central to the tournament’s success in the UK for more than 30 years, and will again be a major feature of Australia 2027, with every minute of every match available for UK fans.

“Australia 2027 will be a landmark moment for rugby. With 24 teams, more matches, more stories and more opportunities for emerging nations to shine on the world stage, the tournament will power a new era for the game.

“Together with ITV, we look forward to bringing every unforgettable moment to everyone across the UK as we invite the world to go all out for Rugby World Cup 2027.”