The recent partnership between Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby and RugbyPass TV has been praised as a groundbreaking development by James Rothwell, Chief Marketing and Content Officer of World Rugby. In this new agreement, RugbyPass TV will broadcast one live Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby game per round to fans worldwide, with the exception of the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
The launch of this broadcast channel, coinciding with the upcoming Men’s Rugby World Cup in August, will grant fans free, official streaming access to live and on-demand content of women’s rugby matches. This significant move is expected to enhance interest and participation in the sport globally.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, Rothwell highlighted the importance of showcasing the Premiership Women’s Rugby to generate momentum and elevate the profile of the game. With 21 match weekends spread over five months, the competition promises to be an enthralling exhibition of international rugby talent.
Rothwell emphasized the significance of integrating women’s rugby matches into the live programming strategy and promoting stars from all participating nations. The goal is to generate excitement and support for the Rugby World Cup 2025, with the aim of making a lasting impact on the sport.
The announcement follows the success of the WXV campaign, where matches were broadcast live across all three variants of the tournament, garnering viewership from 135 countries worldwide. The expansion of transmission to include Premiership Women’s Rugby reflects World Rugby’s commitment to amplifying the reach and visibility of women’s rugby.
In addition to broadcasting Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby matches, RugbyPass TV will also feature the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, showcasing the talents of PWR stars such as Abi Burton, Alicia Maude, and Heather Cowell. This further solidifies the platform as a hub for women’s rugby and amplifies the visibility of the sport on a global stage.
Rothwell expressed enthusiasm for the incredible potential of the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby league, noting that 50% of the athletes who participated in the 2021 World Cup are playing domestically in the UK. This underscores the league’s significance and the need to continue expanding access to its matches.
RugbyPass TV is accessible via various platforms including mobile, tablet, smart TV, and online. Although content is behind a subscription wall, access to all services across the channel is completely free upon sign-up. The next three upcoming matches available to watch on RugbyPass TV are:
– Sunday 3 December: Leicester Tigers v Loughborough Lightning
– Saturday 9 December: Harlequins v Exeter Chiefs
– Saturday 16 December: Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester-Hartpury
The collaboration between Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby and RugbyPass TV signifies a broader commitment among rugby stakeholders to capitalize on the significant growth of women’s rugby. Rothwell stressed the importance of consolidating rights, building centralized platforms, and making rugby content easily accessible to fans as crucial steps in the sport’s expansion.
The overarching goal is to make rugby an unmissable spectacle and to attract an even larger fanbase in the coming years. With the concerted efforts of the rugby community in providing central platforms for content and enhancing accessibility, the growth trajectory of the sport is poised for significant expansion in the near future.