The Nine Network has locked in a major coup, securing exclusive broadcast rights to every Rugby World Cup from 2025 through 2029—cementing its position as the leading home of rugby union in Australia.
The landmark deal gives Nine full coverage of the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups, along with a suite of major international tournaments, across its platforms: 9Network, 9Now, and Stan Sport. The agreement kicks off with the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England next year, running from August 22 to September 27, with every match available live and on-demand via Stan Sport. Wallaroos fixtures will be broadcast free-to-air on 9Network and 9Now.
Stan Sport will stream every game of all three upcoming World Cups—Women’s 2025, Men’s 2027, and Women’s 2029. In parallel, 9Network will air key matches including Wallabies and Wallaroos games, bringing the sport to a broad national audience. The Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be hosted on home soil for the first time in 24 years, while the 2029 Women’s tournament will mark its Australian debut.
The deal also covers other cornerstone rugby events: the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia in 2025, the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, the Pacific Nations Cup in the U.S., and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, among others. From 2026, coverage expands to include the WXV tournaments, a key part of the global women’s rugby calendar.
Nine executives called the multi-year agreement a major step in delivering both value and reach, aligning premium content with large-scale accessibility. World Rugby officials echoed the sentiment, saying the partnership could play a crucial role in growing the game locally and reigniting national interest.
This comprehensive coverage will ensure Australian fans have unmatched access to rugby’s biggest moments—across free-to-air and streaming—through to the end of the decade.
