ITV reveals Rugby World Cup 2015 on-air team

ITV Sport looks ahead to the 2015 Rugby World Cup with the announcement of a stellar line-up to bring viewers exclusive live coverage of this year’s biggest sporting event.

Every single match throughout the six weeks of the tournament, hosted in England, will be broadcast live across ITV and ITV4, with the broadcaster unveiling a line-up of legends from across the world of rugby who will provide the very best insight and analysis from the opening fixture on September 18, through to the final on October 31.

Leading ITV Sport’s on-air team will be presenter John Inverdale, who will be joined by a team of pundits who can draw upon personal experience of competing for the sport’s greatest prize, the Webb Ellis Cup.

They include Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson, members of England’s victorious 2003 team, along with their coach Sir Clive Woodward, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, former Wales captain Gareth Thomas and former Scotland coach Sir Ian McGeechan.

South Africa’s 1995 World Cup winning captain, Francois Pienaar, former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick, part of the side which won the inaugural tournament in 1987, and Australia’s Michael Lynagh, who triumphed in 1991, are once again part of the ITV line-up, having been part of the channel’s punditry teams for the last four World Cups.

George Gregan, who won the Webb Ellis trophy with the Wallabies in 1999, also joins the ITV team, alongside England Women’s World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, and former England and Bath prop David Flatman.

Alongside Inverdale, experienced rugby union broadcasters Mark Durden-Smith, who currently presents ITV’s Aviva Premiership highlights programmes, and BT Sport’s lead rugby anchor Craig Doyle will also present live games across the ITV network this autumn.

Joining them with a wealth of expertise in the commentary box will be Nick Mullins, Martin Gillingham and Simon Ward, who were part of ITV’s team in 2011, while Miles Harrison, Sky Sports’ long-standing rugby commentator, and experienced sports broadcaster Jon Champion return to ITV’s coverage having been part of the commentary team for the 2007 tournament.

Another 2003 World Cup winner will be part of the co-commentary roster in former England forward Ben Kay, with former internationals Geordan Murphy, Scott Hastings and Shane Williams also part of the team.

Bringing viewers all the latest developments from in and around each of the stadiums will be experienced reporters Gabriel Clarke, Jill Douglas, Martin Bayfield and Fran Donovan.

Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: “A Rugby World Cup hosted by England is a once in a generation event and it’s our privilege as the exclusive television broadcaster to bring viewers the full impact of all the action and emotion throughout what we hope will be an unforgettable tournament.

“We believe we’ve assembled a world-class line up of rugby talent who, through their own expertise, experience and sheer passion for the game can help deliver the best possible coverage for those watching at home.”

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “World Rugby is excited about ITV’s coverage plans for England 2015, which promises to be the most-viewed Rugby World Cup to date.

“ITV’s commitment to the highest-standards of production and innovation is great news for existing fans and also rugby’s ability to reach out and inspire new audiences across the UK and around the world.”

ITV will be announcing further details of its coverage plans for the tournament, including TV schedules and digital coverage plans, later in the year.

The broadcaster intends to air the vast majority of the 48 matches live on its flagship ITV channel, with only a handful of contests among smaller rugby-playing nations expected to be aired on ITV4.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 – Full ITV Presenting Team

Presenters:
John Inverdale, Mark Durden-Smith, Craig Doyle

.
Pundits:
Jonny Wilkinson, Lawerence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Sir Clive Woodward,

Brian O’Driscoll, Gareth Thomas, Sir Ian McGeechan, Francois Pienaar,

Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Lynagh, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi, David Flatman

.
Commentators:
Nick Mullins, Miles Harrison, Jon Champion, Martin Gillingham, Simon Ward

.
Co-Commentators:
Geordan Murphy, Scott Hastings, Shane Williams, Ben Kay

.
Reporters:
Gabriel Clarke, Martin Bayfield, Jill Douglas, Fran Donovan

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 – Provisional ITV Schedule

FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER

England v Fiji

Rugby World Cup – Pool A

20:00

SATURDAY 19th SEPTEMBER

Tonga v Georgia

Rugby World Cup – Pool C