Australian commercial broadcaster Seven has sealed a rights deal for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which the country will co-host alongside New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The agreement for the national team tournament was first reported in April and Seven has today (Monday) confirmed a deal has been signed.
Under the agreement, Seven will hold all rights in Australia to the tournament, including free-to-air television, pay-television, online and mobile. Each of the tournament’s 28 games will be shown live and free by Seven.
It will also serve as the tournament’s host broadcaster for international television broadcasts.
Tim Worner, managing director and chief executive of Seven West Media, said: “The Rugby League World Cup delivers our business an extraordinary opportunity to drive home our leadership as we broadcast the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Cup, the Rugby League World Cup, the Australian Open, the Olympic winter Games and the Commonwealth Games across late 2017 and early 2018.”
Australia won the most recent edition of the World Cup, in 2013.