CBS Sports and Paramount+ become the exclusive home of rugby in the U.S. until at least 2029, including the next three Rugby World Cups.
- Agreement cements biggest-ever multi-platform distribution for the sport in the US
- As the home for all CBS Sports’ coverage of World Rugby, Paramount+ will stream every Rugby World Cup match, the USA Rugby National Team’s World Rugby matches, HSBC SVNS, WXV, and Pacific Nations Cup.
- CBS Sports will provide unprecedented multi-platform rugby coverage across linear and streaming.
- Aligns with World Rugby’s strategic growth plan to deepen engagement with U.S. fans across all platforms.
- Follows record-breaking U.S. ticket sales and rising domestic fandom ahead of hosting men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033
World Rugby has announced an exclusive, multi-year, multi-platform rights agreement with CBS Sports for Paramount+ to become the U.S. home for all men’s and women’s World Rugby events through 2029, including the next three Rugby World Cups and all USA national team matches. Under the agreement, Paramount+ will stream every match live with select matches airing on CBS and CBS Sports Network.
As the nationwide destination for World Rugby competitions, Paramount+ will stream CBS Sports’ exclusive live coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2025 and 2029, the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 and premium annual competitions, including the HSBC SVNS, WXV, Pacific Nations Cup, Pacific Four Series and Men’s U20 World Championship.
All USA Men’s and Women’s National Team matches are also included in an extensive deal that will serve fans in the U.S. with more rugby content than ever before. On July 19, CBS Sports will televise a doubleheader involving both USA national teams, airing on the CBS Television Network and CBS Sports Network. Both matches will stream live on Paramount. On May 23, the USA women’s team will play New Zealand at 11:30 PM ET in a match exclusively on CBS Sports Network.
The comprehensive partnership represents a transformative launchpad for the sport, offering American audiences unprecedented access to world-class rugby across linear and streaming platforms, and it underscores World Rugby’s strategic ambition to grow the game in the United States, which will host Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033. Fans will now have a frictionless entry point to discover, watch, follow and fall in love with rugby.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: "Today’s announcement is a generational moment for rugby in the United States. This landmark partnership with CBS Sports and Paramount+ is tangible proof of our commitment to grow the game by connecting great rugby with sports fans wherever they are.
“With their incredible reach and storytelling pedigree, CBS Sports and Paramount+ will be instrumental in building a coast-to-coast rugby community in a country already boasting over 800,000 participants, a dynamic college system, a huge rise in women’s rugby, growing men’s professional league, and a fanbase of nearly 40 million.
“This important deal builds on strong momentum in the U.S. market, supercharging the fan ecosystem with shoulder content, digital storytelling, and on-demand access to help convert curiosity into lasting fandom.”
Executive Vice President of Programming, CBS Sports, Dan Weinberg added: “With rugby’s popularity continuing to grow here in the U.S., this is the perfect moment to bring every major World Rugby competition to CBS Sports and Paramount+. By adding these championship events to our platforms, we’re elevating rugby’s presence nationwide and providing fans for the first time unmatched access to some of the sport’s most prestigious competitions. Paramount+ is now a year-round must-have for rugby fans.”
USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren stated: “Our mission is to bring rugby to new audiences nationwide, and this partnership between World Rugby and CBS Sports marks an extraordinary leap forward. By showcasing both our USA Eagles and broader international competition, we’re building bridges between American sports fans and the excitement of the global game. Together with CBS Sports and World Rugby, we’re proud to lay a new foundation for rugby’s future in the United States.
The USA Eagles’ upcoming Summer Series has already set new records for ticket sales, while the recent women’s national team encounter with Canada in Kansas City played out in front of a packed stadium that also generated the largest-ever American attendance for a women’s rugby international. The growing profile of players like Ilona Maher, a crossover social media star and Olympic athlete, signals rugby’s rising cultural relevance in the U.S.
More key dates for World Rugby competitions on Paramount+ through the remainder of 2025 include:
- Sunday, 29 June: Start of men’s World Rugby U20 Championship
- Friday, 22 August: Start of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 (USA v host England) and Pacific Nations Cup
- Saturday, 20 September: Men’s Pacific Nations Cup final, Salt Lake City
- Saturday, 27 September: Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final, London
- Saturday, 1 November: New Zealand v Ireland men’s test match (Soldier Field, Chicago)
Tickets for USA Men’s and Women’s home 2025 test matches are now on sale via usa.rugby/tickets.
