Sky secures World Rugby rights and confirms RugbyPass sale

Monday 10th October 2022

Sky New Zealand (SKT) has agreed a wide-ranging deal with World Rugby that secures exclusive rights to premium competitions, including Rugby World Cups, for seven years. Under the deal, World Rugby will acquire RugbyPass, and the two parties have agreed a joint approach to the production of exclusive programming, particularly in the women’s game.

Within the significant rights agreement, Sky will cement its place as New Zealand’s destination for World Rugby events and content between 2023 and 2029. This includes every men’s and every women’s Rugby World Cup, the new WXV (international women’s fifteens competition) and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney said: “Sky’s goal is to connect New Zealanders with the sport and entertainment they love, in ways that work for them. This agreement secures exclusive access to all of World Rugby’s premium competitions for many years, and we look forward to offering them to all New Zealanders on the Sky Box, our streaming services and free-to-air.”

The partnership includes an agreement to co-produce exciting new programming with an emphasis on the women’s game, a strategic priority for both Sky and World Rugby.

“This significant deal also sees World Rugby acquiring RugbyPass, the established destination for rugby fans across the globe with comprehensive rugby news, analysis, shows, podcasts, live match statistics and results. In the last two years RugbyPass has focused on building its audience and network business, and it is an exciting transition for the RugbyPass team to work with World Rugby to deliver on its strategic mission to grow the sport globally.”

“We look forward to working with World Rugby to deliver superb rugby content to our customers here in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to supporting their efforts to grow the game of rugby globally.”

ENDS

Sky secures World Rugby rights and confirms RugbyPass sale

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