• RWC 2015 was the most widely viewed rugby event ever
  • UK and Ireland achieved record audience figures
  • RWC 2015 programming featured in top audience-grossing shows in both markets
  • Excitement building and preparation progressing for RWC 2019

World Rugby has launched the United Kingdom and Ireland broadcast rights tender for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
 
Rugby World Cup 2015 was the most widely viewed rugby event ever, the live audience for Rugby World Cup 2015 increased by a factor of 48 per cent over the last edition in New Zealand, with live viewership through 106 broadcasters reaching nearly 724 million homes worldwide.
 
The United Kingdom and Ireland markets were at the heart of the success story with Rugby World Cup programming achieving heavyweight viewing figures across both markets and broadcasters reporting strong ad sales returns. With rugby continuing to achieve record participation and interest growth around the world, the demand for the rights is set to remain strong.
 
In the UK, host broadcaster ITV achieved peak audiences reaching 11.5m for England's matches against Fiji, Wales and Australia and the final. The total UK three-minute reach was 40.2 million, while the 15-minute reach was just under 34 million, demonstrating just how Rugby World Cup 2015 captured the imagination across the host nation.
 
In Ireland, TV3 attracted its biggest-ever audiences for Rugby World Cup 2015 matches involving the Ireland team, while Rugby World Cup matches delivered three of the top four broadcast audiences in the Republic in 2015.
 
World Rugby has issued bidding information to interested parties in both markets and bids for Rugby World Cup 2019 as a stand-alone or coupled with Rugby World Cup 2023 will be considered. Broadcasters interested in receiving the tender documentation should contact Jeremy Stone (Jeremy.Stone@img.com). The Rights Holding Broadcaster for each market will be announced later this year.
 
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: "Rugby World Cup 2015 was a very special and record-breaking tournament. Central to its success was the reach and appeal of the tournament through our broadcast partners in the UK and Ireland, where record rugby audiences were achieved.
 
"We are inviting all interested parties to enter the process and look forward to appointing our rights holding broadcasters for these important markets later in the year as the exciting momentum continues towards what promises to be a ground-breaking Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.