Pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has acquired rights in the UK and Ireland to this year’s Women’s World Cup and Junior World Championship rugby union tournaments.
Sky Sports will be the exclusive UK broadcaster for the Women’s World Cup and Junior World Championship and the only English language broadcaster in Ireland covering the tournaments.
The top 12 nations will compete in the World Cup in France this August and Sky Sports will show the semi-finals and final, plus pool stage matches live.
Sky will also broadcast live coverage of the pool stage matches, plus the semi-finals and final, of the Junior World Championship, which takes place from June 2-20 in New Zealand. The annual competition is contested by the top 12 men's under-20 national teams.
Sky has agreed the deal with the International Rugby Board, world rugby’s governing body.