Big networks turn eyes to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

Photo / Chris Gorman Holm

Top television networks in the United States, China and Russia are broadcasting Rugby World Cup matches for the first time, showing off our national sport to a huge new audience.

American networks Universal Sports and NBC Sports are both televising several tournament games and showing up-to-date footage on their websites to an audience that traditionally does not follow rugby.

The coverage includes the delayed broadcast of this weekend's All Blacks game against Canada in Wellington.

And with Universal Sport Television Network going to more than 63,000,000 homes around the US, the move is set to get more people around the world talking rugby.

International Rugby Board spokesman Dominic Rumbles said yesterday: "TV rights account for approximately 60 per cent of the IRB's revenues from RWC and are reinvested in the game to ensure the continued growth and competitiveness of the world game."

The tournament was being televised to more than 200 territories around the world, Mr Rumbles said.

"This has a lot to do with rugby Sevens becoming an Olympic sport."

Chief executive of Universal Sports David Sternberg last month said the network was excited to show its audience one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

China and Russia are also broadcasting matches for the first time.

Meanwhile, Kiwis around the world are doing all they can to watch their favourite team take to the field.

Expat Kiwi Damian Foley, who lives in the US, said he was watching the games online.

"That means a lot of 3am starts to the day for me to watch the RWC online. I printed out a schedule, picked out the matches I wanted to watch and made peace with the fact that I won't be getting much sleep for a few weeks."

Becky Engel, in Portland, Oregon, said she and her husband had subscribed to UniversalSports.com especially to watch the matches live or on playback.

"Because most matches are occurring during the middle of our night in the US, I go into self-imposed social media blackout period, where I avoid all websites where I could see RWC scores before I've seen the match."

In Belgium, Stijn Baetens said he and his friends were rugby enthusiasts and watched the games via satellite television. But they made a party of every All Black match, heading to the local pub to see it.

"I follow the RWC website and watch the highlights there - aside from the All Blacks' games which I always go watch in the pub with some friends."

Aucklander Helen Magasiva, who is working as a teacher in Jakarta, said you had to do a bit of research to find which bars in town were showing Rugby World Cup matches.

"I tried to buy cable TV because I thought they would have it. But when I asked if they had rugby they said: 'Rugby? What's rugby?"'

Most expats went to Southern Jakarta's Kemang district to watch matches with friends, she said.

"Kemang is a very expatriate community, with people from everywhere, so they have a few bars showing the All Blacks' games."