Rugby League World Cup Set For BBC
Rugby League World Cup 2013 organisers have announced that the BBC has secured rights to broadcast the tournament, showing live coverage of all England games on television and radio, starting with the Opening Ceremony featuring England v Australia.
There will then be live coverage of England’s other two Group A games against Ireland and Fiji, as well as a quarter-final, semi-final showdown at Wembley and the Rugby League World Cup Final at Old Trafford on 30th November.
The BBC will show regular highlights programmes throughout the tournament, which will incorporate all the action from matches not shown live.
The deal sees BBC Sport’s partnership with rugby league continue through until at least the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which also covers the 2014 and 2016 Four Nations tournaments.
Meanwhile, pay-TV channel Premier Sports have further added to their rugby league portfolio by acquiring rights to show every game live.
RLWC2013 tournament director, Nigel Wood said: ‘This is fantastic news for RLWC2013. The BBC is arguably the number one terrestrial sports broadcaster in the world. Their incredible coverage of the London Olympics further enhanced their reputation and so for them to cover the next international sporting event in the UK is a great fit for them and for us.’
‘We’re delighted fans will be able to watch the showpiece events live on terrestrial TV. The BBC will help RLWC2013 bring new audiences to our amazing sport and will enable our established fan base to immerse themselves in five weeks of fantastic, world class sport.’
‘Premier Sports do a great job for Rugby League showing Kingstone Press Championship, every NRL game and the State of Origin matches. Their coverage will enable fans to see every minute of the tournament live.’
Barbara Slater, director BBC Sport, added: ‘BBC Sport is committed to bringing major national sporting events to the widest audience, so we’re very excited to be adding the Rugby League World Cup to our portfolio. This is a great opportunity to showcase Rugby League across all BBC platforms, and it’s an added bonus that the 2013 tournament is on home soil.’
‘BBC Sport has extended its commitment to Rugby League with broadcast rights confirmed for the Four Nations in 2014 and 2016, and the World Cup in 2017 to add to our current coverage of the Challenge Cup and Super League.’
RLWC2013 organisers also announced that they are already in talks with both broadcasters regarding confirmation of the schedule.
RLWC2013 tournament general manager Sally Bolton commented: ‘We appreciate fans patience in waiting for kick off times to be announced. We will be meeting both BBC and Premier Sports to tie this down and are aiming to confirm times as soon as we are able.’
Rugby League World Cup 2013 kicks off on Saturday 26th October 2013 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with matches played in England, Wales, Ireland and France.
The competition’s structure will consist of two groups of four and two groups of three.
England are drawn alongside arch-rivals Australia as well as Fiji and Ireland in Group A; Rugby League World Cup holders New Zealand will face Pacific Island rivals Papua New Guinea and Samoa along with France in Group B.
Scotland will face Tonga and Italy in Group C and joint hosts Wales have been drawn against the Cook Islands and the USA in Group D.
