#RWC2019
20 September - 2 November
WorldRugby
Website language English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2019 - Logo
Listen Live
  • RWC 2021
  • Matches
  • Video
  • Teams
  • World Cups
    • World Cups
    • New Zealand 2021
    • France 2023
  • Matches
  • News
  • Teams
  • Pools
  • Video
  • For the Fans
    • For the Fans
    • Experience Rugby World Cup
    • Predictor
    • Bar Finder
    • Greatest XV
    • #RWCEpicMoments
    • Tournament Bracket
    • Fanzones
  • Visit Japan
  • Tickets
  • Trophy Tour
  • Statistics
  • Classic
    • Classic
    • Qualifying
    • Archive
  • Media
  • Info
    • Info
    • Tournament Info
    • App
    • Official Store
    • Broadcasters
    • Match Ball Delivery
    • Impact Beyond
    • Childfund
    • Volunteers
    • Typhoon Hagibis
  • France 2023
Website language English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
WorldRugby
  • Tickets
  • Trophy Tour
  • Statistics
  • Classic
    • Classic
    • Qualifying
    • Archive
  • Media
  • Info
    • Info
    • Tournament Info
    • App
    • Official Store
    • Broadcasters
    • Match Ball Delivery
    • Impact Beyond
    • Childfund
    • Volunteers
    • Typhoon Hagibis
  • France 2023

  • Twitter @rugbyworldcup
  • Facebook @rugbyworldcup
  • YouTube World Rugby
  • Instagram @rugbyworldcup
  • Snapchat rugbyworldcup
RWC 2019 News
Latest News
Japan v Scotland - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group A
Rugby World Cup Memories
Wednesday 16 Dec 2020
10 classic men’s pool matches at Rugby World Cup
Following the Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw, we look back at 10 of the best men’s pool matches from the archives.
Wednesday 16 Dec 2020
England v Australia - Rugby World Cup 2019: Quarter Final
Rugby World Cup
Friday 11 Dec 2020
Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw: Most and least common fixtures in tournament’s history
Ahead of the official Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw in Paris on Monday, we take a look at the fixtures that have been played more than others — and those that have left fans wanting more.
New Zealand v Argentina - 2020 Tri-Nations
Rugby history
Wednesday 18 Nov 2020
10 of the biggest upsets in international rugby history
Following Argentina’s first ever win against New Zealand, we look back at some of the biggest upsets in the history of the game.
New Zealand v Namibia - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group B
World Rugby Awards
Saturday 24 Oct 2020
World Rugby Awards: Vote for the IRP 15s Tries of the Decade
Fans from across the globe are being invited to cast their vote on the International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s 15s Try of the Decade.
Latest Videos
RWC SELECTION PROCESS - ALAN GILPIN, WORLD RUGBY
RWC
Thursday 13 Aug 2020
RWC Host Selection Process - Alan Gilpin
01:59 mins
Thursday 13 Aug 2020
RWC selection process - Brett Gosper
RWC
Thursday 13 Aug 2020
RWC Host Selection Process - Brett Gosper
South Africa RWC 1995
Hall of Fame
Wednesday 24 Jun 2020
World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Francois Pienaar on South Africa's RWC successes
Brett Gosper on Economic Impact of Rugby World Cup
RWC 2019
Wednesday 24 Jun 2020
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper on Economic impact of Rugby World Cup 2019
Press releases
Monday 09 Mar 2020

RWC 2019 sets new broadcast records and inspires new audiences

The World in Union
Presented By
Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan was the most watched rugby event ever with more than 857 million people around the world watching the action via World Rugby’s network of rights-holding broadcast partners, an increase of 26 per cent from the previous tournament in England.
Share ?
Share
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied
  • Most-watched rugby event ever inspires a new audience for rugby
  • Most-watched Rugby World Cup final ever, despite challenging time-zone for participating nations
  • Japan smashes domestic market broadcast record
  • Germany and Asia lead emerging markets boom
  • RWC final most watched sports event of the year in the UK

Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan was the most watched rugby event ever with more than 857 million people around the world watching the action via World Rugby’s network of rights-holding broadcast partners, an increase of 26 per cent from the previous tournament in England.

With World Rugby producing the pictures for the first time, Asia’s first Rugby World Cup saw cumulative live audience grow from 479 million in 2015 to 501 million in 2019 – a five per cent increase – despite the time difference to the traditionally dominant rugby broadcast markets of France and the UK.

Reaffirming the tournament’s game-changing legacy mantra, Japan 2019 audience growth was driven by the Asian market and in particular Japan, where the host's performance captured hearts and minds in a way not seen since the FIFA World Cup in 2002.

South Africa’s historic victory inspires record live final audience

South Africa’s triumph over England was the most watched Rugby World Cup final ever with an average live audience of 44.9 million fans watching the Springboks prevail.

That represented an 83 per cent increase on the live television audience for the final at Twickenham four years previously, while the total viewing figure was up by 63 per cent to 51.3 million.

Interest in the UK and South Africa was high, and a combined 16.7 million people across the two countries made the final a part of their Saturday morning routine – more than double the figures achieved in those markets in 2015.

Rugby World Cup final the most-watched sports event of 2019 in the UK

The progress of South Africa’s final opponents England helped deliver outstanding outcomes for UK rights holder ITV despite a challenging time-zone.

The peak final audience of 12.8 million and a 79 per cent audience share, was the most-watched sports event of the year and the second-most watched TV programme of the year behind Gavin and Stacey.

Japan cements new status as rugby’s biggest broadcast market

It was perhaps fitting that at the end of a tournament that saw the hosts excel on and off the field, that Japan contributed just over half of all global viewing.

In Japan, a total cumulative audience of 425 million tuned into RWC 2019, more than five times the Japanese viewership for England 2015.

The most watched match on Japanese TV was the Brave Blossoms’ unforgettable Pool A encounter with Scotland in Yokohama.

Japan’s quarter-final clinching victory, which went ahead just hours after Typhoon Hagibis had passed through the country, was watched by a domestic peak record rugby TV audience of 54.8 million – more than the FIFA 2002 World Cup final.

Japan also recorded the highest viewing figures for the Rugby World Cup final, as a live average of 17.2 million fans watched Siya Kolisi’s side lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time.

Those impressive figures helped to swell the global cumulative viewing figures for the tournament, which grew from 679 million four years ago to 851 million in 2019. That represented an increase of 26 per cent, or 172 million viewers.

Viewers outside of Europe represented a highest-ever 71 per cent share of the total TV audience, nearly double the share of audience achieved at England 2015.

Emerging nations interest booms

With Rugby World Cup a proven inspirer of new fans, 52 per cent of people who followed the tournament in emerging markets did so for the first time.

Japan was not the only market that experienced impressive growth during RWC 2019. Driven by a move to free-to-air broadcast, Germany became the seventh highest viewing territory globally with 10.82 million cumulative viewers tuning in.

That put Germany ahead of Italy and Ireland in terms of cumulative viewers and contributed to a rise in the cumulative audience of more than 55 per cent across German-speaking European countries.

RWC 2019 also reached new audiences in south-east Asia, propelled by impressive growth in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam – which all placed in the top 20 TV markets globally – cumulative viewing figures and increased from a base of less than one million to 20.5 million.

Access to Rugby World Cup driving global fan growth

As identified by Nielsen’s latest global Sports DNA fan study, the number of rugby fans – those either interested or very interested in the sport – grew by 61 million from 344 million in May 2018 to 405 million in November 2019 following Rugby World Cup. Almost two-thirds of the growth came from Asia, with India and Vietnam joining Japan as the highest growing markets. The number of female fans continues to grow at more than six times the rate of male fans globally.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “These exceptional broadcast figures reaffirm our belief that Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan will be remembered as one of the great, if not the greatest of all Rugby World Cups.

“It had everything – exceptional rugby on the field, a host nation team that exceeded all expectations, capturing hearts and minds, and the inspiring story of Siya Kolisi – all creating an incredible story that captured the imagination of people around the world in record numbers.

“Overall audience growth is just one part of the story. It is particularly pleasing for the future development of the sport that Rugby World Cup 2019 broadcast success was driven by younger people in emerging markets such as India, Germany and across Asia, while Japan is now a major broadcast market for rugby – generating a sustainable audience legacy for the sport.”

 

Share ?
Share
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied
  • Matches
    #RWC2019
    Matches
  • Tickets
    #RWC2019
    Tickets
  • Teams
    #RWC2019
    Teams
  • Video
    #RWC2019
    Video
  • Visit Japan
    #RWC2019
    Visit Japan
  • Shop
    #RWC2019
    Shop
Most read this week More News
1
Press releases
Wednesday 15 Nov 2017
World Rugby awards RWC 2023 to France
2
REPORT CARD: JAPAN
Monday 21 Oct 2019
Arigato Japan - you have made the World Cup special
3
MEDIA RELEASES
Wednesday 24 Jun 2020
RWC 2019 delivers record economic, social and sporting outcomes for Japan
4
Rugby World Cup Memories
Wednesday 16 Dec 2020
10 classic men’s pool matches at Rugby World Cup
5
RWC 2015
Monday 19 Sep 2016
Rugby World Cup Rewind: When Japan rocked the rugby world
6
Press releases
Monday 09 Mar 2020
RWC 2019 sets new broadcast records and inspires new audiences
7
World Rankings
Thursday 15 Aug 2019
New Zealand's reign under threat from European trio
8
RWC 2019
Tuesday 19 Sep 2017
Re live the glory - RWC 2015 - Japan v South Africa
9
Press releases
Tuesday 20 Mar 2018
RWC 2019 set to deliver record economic benefits
10
Rugby World Cup
Friday 11 Dec 2020
Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw: Most and least common fixtures in tournament’s history
More News
Worldwide Partners
Rugby World Cup 2019
Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol

MATCHES

TEAMS

POOLS

STATISTICS

JAPAN

TICKETS

CLASSIC

Follow Rugby World Cup on social
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2021. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup

Managing Cookies on the Rugby World Cup 2019 website

We use cookies to help make our sites function properly. We would also like to use cookies to continually improve our sites, offer you a better experience and deliver personalised content to you. Our use of cookies is described further in our Cookies Policy.

You can enable all optional cookies by clicking “Accept All Cookies”. You can also choose to adjust your cookie settings and select to have only necessary cookies and the cookies you wish to be deployed to be used.

Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences.

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies enable basic functionality on our sites such as page navigation, access to secure areas, authenticating logins, and the delivery of other core functions. This category of cookies cannot be disabled on our sites. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of these sites will not then work.

Cookie Consent: Analytics

We would like to use Analytics cookies provided by Google to help us to improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify anyone. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited these sites and will not be able to monitor their performance.

Cookie Consent: Advertising

We would also like to use advertising cookies, which collect information, and combine it with previously collected information, to select and deliver advertisements for you, and to measure the delivery and effectiveness of such advertisements. This includes using previously collected information about your interests to select ads, processing data about what advertisements were shown, how often they were shown, when and where they were shown, and whether you took any action related to the advertisement, including for example clicking an ad. These cookies may be on-site cookies or third party cookies.