S4C has secured the rights to broadcast selected matches from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year.
The Welsh language channel’s coverage will feature nine live matches – including all of Wales’ matches during the tournament – one quarter-final and one semi-final fixture.
Live coverage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup final and third place play-off will also be broadcast on S4C.
S4C’s World Cup output kicks off on 9 September with the Opening Ceremony and the tournament’s first match between hosts New Zealand and Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland.
Matches will be broadcast live during the mornings but due to the time difference, viewers will be offered another chance to see full coverage later that day during peak hours. The matches will be repeated the following day.
Wales’ Rugby World Cup campaign begins on 11 September when they face the current Champions, South Africa, in Wellington. Then, the Welsh squad face Samoa at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton (18 September), followed by African side Namibia on 26 September in New Plymouth. Wales’ final battle in the group stages will be against Fiji back in Hamilton on 2 October.
Non-Welsh speaking viewers can also follow the output with English subtitles.
The nine matches will also be available to watch again on s4c.co.uk/clic – the online catch-up service. Highlights of the matches will also be shown on the channel’s rugby website, s4c.co.uk/rygbi.
S4C’s Content Editor Sport, Geraint Rowlands, adds: “With live coverage from this year’s Rugby World Cup competition, we’ll be providing a great opportunity for audiences in Wales to enjoy the competition from a Welsh perspective. The Rugby World Cup is one of this year’s sporting highlights and all eyes will be on New Zealand in the autumn so S4C viewers can be in the middle of the buzz, competition and excitement.
ITV are the principal UK broadcast partners of the IRB Rugby World Cup, having secured exclusive rights to the 2011 and 2015 tournament’s last July.
Unless matches are shown HD, many viewers will prefer ITV transmission HD transmission.
It would really be awesome to see that 2011 Rugby world cup.