World Rugby has secured a groundbreaking broadcast deal with CBS Sports that will bring the next three Rugby World Cups—and much more—to American screens via Paramount+.
The deal positions Paramount+ as the U.S. home for all men’s and women’s World Rugby events through 2029. In addition to Rugby World Cup tournaments, the agreement includes coverage of every USA national team match and major annual competitions like the HSBC SVNS, WXV, Pacific Nations Cup, Pacific Four Series, and the Men’s U20 World Championship.
World Rugby is calling it the biggest-ever multi-platform distribution agreement for the sport in the U.S. Paramount+ will stream CBS Sports’ exclusive live coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2025 and 2029, the Men’s World Cup in 2027, and more.
On July 19, CBS Sports will air a doubleheader featuring both USA national teams on the CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network. The games will also stream live on Paramount+.
“This comprehensive partnership represents a transformative launchpad for the sport,” World Rugby said in a statement. “It offers American audiences unprecedented access to world-class rugby across both TV and streaming platforms.”
The partnership is a key part of World Rugby’s strategy to grow the sport in the U.S., which is set to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women’s edition in 2033. With the deal, rugby fans in the U.S. will have easy access to follow the sport and engage with new content.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin described the announcement as “a generational moment for rugby in the United States.”
“This partnership with CBS Sports and Paramount+ shows our commitment to growing the game by connecting fans to top-tier rugby wherever they are,” Gilpin said.
He emphasized that CBS’s wide reach and storytelling expertise will help build a national rugby community. The U.S. already has more than 800,000 players, a thriving college system, a growing men’s professional league, and nearly 40 million rugby fans.
“This deal will supercharge the fan experience in the U.S.,” Gilpin added, “with on-demand content and storytelling that turns curiosity into long-term passion.”
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