Is the Rugby World Cup Televised?

The Rugby World Cup is not only televised, but it’s also one of the most watched sporting events globally. The 2023 tournament in France smashed viewership records, accumulating a staggering 1.33 billion viewing hours across various broadcast platforms. This represents a significant 30% increase compared to the 2015 World Cup in England and a 19% rise compared to the 2019 tournament in Japan. This growth defies the global trend of declining linear TV viewership, highlighting the Rugby World Cup’s enduring appeal.

France, as the host nation, led the viewership charts with 481 million hours, even though their team exited in the quarterfinals. Eight out of the eleven surveyed markets, including established rugby nations and emerging territories, experienced substantial viewership growth since 2015. This widespread increase underscores the tournament’s expanding global reach and its ability to compete with other major entertainment offerings.

The United Kingdom nearly matched its record-breaking viewership from 2015 when they hosted the tournament. This achievement is particularly impressive given the 27% decline in overall linear TV viewership in the UK during the same period. Emerging rugby markets like Germany, Italy, and the USA also showcased remarkable growth, with increases of 27%, 70%, and 136% respectively compared to the 2015 World Cup. This surge in viewership demonstrates rugby’s growing popularity in non-traditional markets.

The final match between South Africa and New Zealand drew the largest global audience, with 94 million viewing hours. The quarter-final clash between France and South Africa secured the second-highest viewership with 69 million hours. These figures highlight the captivating nature of the Rugby World Cup and its ability to attract massive audiences for crucial matches.

World Rugby’s commitment to accessibility ensures the tournament reaches a broad audience. Approximately 85% of the global viewership for the 2023 tournament came from free-to-air television broadcasts. Leading free-to-air channels like TF1 in France and ITV1 in the UK played a crucial role, accumulating 322 million and 295 million viewing hours, respectively.

Streaming services also contributed to the record-breaking viewership, accounting for 70 million viewing hours globally. RugbyPass TV, World Rugby’s own streaming platform, provided coverage in markets without local broadcasters, attracting 350,000 subscribers and 1.7 million users. This demonstrates the increasing importance of digital platforms in expanding the reach of the Rugby World Cup.

The legacy of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan continues to resonate, with Japan ranking third in viewership for the 2023 tournament with 175.9 million hours. While this represents a decrease from 2019 when Japan hosted, it’s a staggering 221% increase compared to 2015. This sustained growth showcases the long-term impact of hosting the tournament and the continued expansion of rugby in the region. Despite challenging time zone differences, 86% of Japanese viewers tuned in for live broadcasts, underscoring the dedicated fanbase in this crucial market. Two pool games featuring Japan achieved 33 million viewing hours each, demonstrating the strong domestic support for the national team.