Los Angeles and New York – Universal Sports and NBC Sports will present unprecedented multi-platform coverage of the upcoming 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Universal Sports will broadcast LIVE coverage of seven matches, beginning on Friday, September 9 at 3:30 a.m. ET with the Opening Ceremony, followed by the first match of the tournament, featuring host country New Zealand and Tonga. NBC will broadcast its first match on Sunday, September 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET, when the USA Eagles, in their first match of the tournament, take on Ireland.

Universal Sports’ and NBC Sports’ match coverage will feature a studio pre-game show and halftime and post-game shows, as well as several other production enhancements. The studio team will consist of Fred Roggin and Bill Seward alongside former USA  star and Universal Sports analyst Brian Hightower.

“The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and we are excited to showcase it for the first time to an American network TV audience,” said David Sternberg, CEO of Universal Sports. “With unprecedented coverage across all platforms, including web, mobile and tablet applications, both longstanding and new fans of the sport will be able to follow every minute of the action from New Zealand.”

“It is super exciting to have the Rugby World Cup broadcast on Universal Sports and NBC Sports,” said USA Eagles Captain Todd Clever. “When I first started playing rugby it was a minor sport with very limited opportunities for the fans to watch. Now the whole nation will get the opportunity to watch us play on the world’s greatest rugby stage and we can all celebrate together.”

In total, Universal Sports and NBC Sports will broadcast 10 of the tournament’s 48 matches. The remaining 38 matches will be available live on a residential and commercial pay-per-view basis from leading cable, satellite and iPV providers. Viewers should check TV listings for complete details. 

Online streaming of all 48 matches, including 41 live contests, will be available at UniversalSports.com on a subscription basis. Users will be able to purchase individual matches or a full-tournament package. In addition, Universal Sports’ website and new iPad app will offer up-to-date broadcast schedules, breaking news from Universalsports.com rugby correspondent Buzz McClain, video highlights, special features, photo galleries and more.

The IRB Rugby World Cup is one of the largest and most avidly watched sporting events in the world, drawing an estimated 4.2 billion viewers worldwide during the last championship in France in 2007. The tournament field consists of 20 different nations, including the United States, who will compete over the course of six weeks for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand and Australia jointly hosted the first edition of the Rugby World Cup in 1987, while South Africa is the defending champion from 2007.

Universal Sports and NBC Sports Broadcast Schedule

Date                            Time (ET)                  Match                                     Network

September 9                3:30 a.m. LIVE           Opening Ceremony                 Universal Sports

4:15 a.m. LIVE           New Zealand vs. Tonga          Universal Sports

September 11              1:00 p.m.                     USA vs. Ireland                      NBC

5:00 p.m.                     USA vs. Ireland                      Universal Sports (NBC Re-Air)

September 15              3:15 a.m. LIVE           USA vs. Russia                       Universal Sports

8:00 p.m.                     USA vs. Russia                       Universal Sports (Re-Air)

September 23              4:15 a.m. LIVE           USA vs. Australia                   Universal Sports

8:00 p.m.                     USA vs. Australia                   Universal Sports (Re-Air)

September 27              2:15 a.m. LIVE           USA vs. Italy                          Universal Sports

8:00 p.m.                     USA vs. Italy                          Universal Sports (Re-Air)

October 2                    3:00 p.m.                     New Zealand vs. Canada        NBC

7:00 p.m.                     New Zealand vs. Canada        Universal Sports (NBC Re-Air)

October 15                  3:45 a.m. LIVE           Semi-Final #1                          Universal Sports

5:00 p.m.                     Semi-Final #1                          Universal Sports (Re-Air)

October 16                  3:45 a.m. LIVE           Semi-Final #2                          Universal Sports

5:00 p.m.                     Semi-Final #2                          Universal Sports (Re-Air)

October 21                  3:15 a.m. LIVE           Bronze Final                            Universal Sports

7:00 p.m.                     Bronze Final                            Universal Sports (Re-Air)

October 23                  3:00 p.m.                     Final                                        NBC

8:00 p.m.                     Final                                        Universal Sports (Re-Air)