Sky Sports will show the biggest event in women’s rugby union this summer after securing exclusive live coverage of the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The top twelve nations, including defending champions New Zealand as well as England, Wales and Ireland, will compete in France from August 1-17 and Sky Sports will show the semi-finals and final, plus key pool stage matches live.
England will be hoping to lift the trophy having finished runners-up in the last three Women’s Rugby World Cups and recording their only win twenty years ago in 1994.
The deal also includes live coverage of the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand, with the capital Auckland hosting the event from June 2-20, the final of which will be held at the iconic Eden Park.
This annual competition, which is contested by the top 12 men’s under-20 national teams in the world, saw England lift the trophy to be crowned champions last year and Sky Sports will again show key matches from the pool stages matches, plus the semi-finals and final.
The announcement extends Sky Sports’ partnership with two of the IRB’s biggest tournaments, having inspired and engaged global audiences with its host broadcasting of the record-breaking 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Sky covered the 2010 tournament exclusively live with terrestrial highlights of the final on the BBC, in which tournament favourites New Zealand beat the host nation in the final.
With levels of participation in the Women’s Game at an all time high, and just days before International Women’s Day, it’s further good news for one of the fastest growing sports in the World.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “Sky Sports are renowned for their passion and support for Rugby and we are delighted to be extending our partnership with a broadcaster who shares our vision for women’s and age grade Rugby.”
“It’s also further proof of the great leaps made by the Women’s Game.
“In a Women’s Rugby World Cup year and with the growth of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series, it’s good to see the Game reaching out to new audiences.”
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: “It’s fantastic that this summer we will have the best women’s Rugby on Sky, adding to our strong year-round portfolio of women’s sport.”
“It’s also great news that we’ll get to showcase the future stars of world Rugby in the Junior World Championship across our channels.
“Both tournaments are going to be excellent additions to our unrivalled coverage of the game and our summer of live sport.”
Katy McLean, England women’s rugby team captain said: “It’s brilliant news that the World Cup will be live on Sky Sports.
“The team and I can’t wait to play in the tournament knowing that women’s rugby will be taken to a wide audience and all our fans, friends and family can watch us back home.”
Sky Sports will be the exclusive UK broadcaster for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and IRB Junior World Championship and the only English language broadcaster in Ireland covering the tournaments.
The full schedule for the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be announced in due course.
Sky Sports offers an unrivalled choice of women’s sport, with a year-round schedule offering live cricket, netball, rugby union, golf, tennis and athletics.
The coverage of both events strengthens Sky Sports’ unrivalled portfolio of live international rugby union coverage.
Only on Sky Sports can viewers enjoy international summer tours plus England, Ireland, France and Italy Autumn Internationals and The Rugby Championship from the southern hemisphere.
The year-round calendar also includes continued European rugby action, a new deal for live PRO12 matches, women’s matches, Sevens, domestic rugby and Super Rugby.
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