The BBC will broadcast all 61 games from the men’s, women’s and wheelchair Rugby League World Cup tournaments next month live across its TV, radio and digital channels.
The festival of rugby, which kicks off on October 15 and takes place across England, will mark the first time such comprehensive coverage of the event has been offered from BBC Sport, or any other broadcaster. For the first time ever, every game in every tournament will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV and iPlayer, from BBC Sport’s MediaCityUK base. Further coverage will be offered on Radio 5 Live, Extra and BBC Sounds, and there will also be a host of rugby-related content running alongside the games themselves.
On TV and iPlayer, lead hosts for the tournament will be Mark Chapman, Tanya Arnold and JJ Chalmers, alongside former players including Jon Wilkin, Jamie Peacock, James Graham, Lois Forsell, Danika Priim, Jonathan Davies, Kyle Amor and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
Over on Radio 5 Live and Extra the team will include Dave Woods, Matt Newsum, Sharon Shortle and Salford coach Paul Rowley. Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra will deliver audiences commentary from 23 live games during the World Cup, alongside regular updates, news and interviews across various programmes.
BBC Sounds will host a weekly Rugby League World Cup podcast presented by Tanya Arnold every Monday while the tournament takes place. Arnold will be joined by former England and St Helens player Jon Wilkin and international rugby league journalist, Steve Mascord. All three will be joined by a host of guests, bringing a different flavour and take on this autumn’s World Cup.
The tournament kicks off with England v Samoa on October 15 and concludes a month later with the men’s and women’s finals at Old Trafford on November 19.
