BBC Secures Exclusive UK Rights for 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup

With one year remaining until England kicks off the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, BBC Sport has secured an exclusive UK rights deal with World Rugby for live coverage in England. BBC Sport will broadcast the tournament across its linear channels, and every match will be available to watch live on BBC iPlayer, the Sport website, and the app. Live audio commentary will also be provided on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra, with coverage accessible on BBC Sounds, DAB radio, and the BBC Sport website. This exclusive deal will also extend coverage to BBC Scotland, BBC Wales, and BBC Northern Ireland.

England, currently ranked as the number one team in the world by World Rugby and already qualified for the tournament, will aim to reclaim their title as World Champions in front of their home fans. Nine other teams—Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA—have also secured their spots. Scotland and Wales can confirm their qualification at the WXV later this year, which will also be available on the BBC.

Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, stated: “Next summer is set to be a huge moment for women’s sport and following coverage of WXV and the Women’s 6 Nations Championship on the BBC we’re proud to bring audiences exclusive coverage of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 hosted in England. Big sporting moments have a unique ability to unify bringing people together and never more so when international competitions play out on home soil. And we cannot wait.”

World Rugby Chief Executive, Alan Gilpin, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying: “We are delighted to be partnering with BBC Sport for Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 and WXV. The BBC is a massive champion of women’s rugby and women’s sport more broadly and with their multi-platform, diverse programming approach and regional reach, we look forward to making history together – the biggest, most accessible and record-breaking celebration of women’s rugby ever.”

The Women’s Rugby World Cup will commence on August 22, 2025, with hosts England opening the competition at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. The 10th edition of the tournament will take place across eight locations nationwide, culminating in the final at Twickenham Stadium in London on September 27th.

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