South African rugby fans have received clarity on where they will watch the next two Rugby World Cups, after Canal+ confirmed an agreement with World Rugby that keeps Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 live on SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa, giving DStv subscribers continued access to the Springboks’ title defence in Australia and the next major chapter in women’s rugby.
Canal+ has confirmed a major broadcast-rights agreement with World Rugby that will keep the next two Rugby World Cups on SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The agreement covers Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, both to be hosted in Australia. For South African fans, the most immediate impact is clear: the Springboks’ next World Cup campaign will remain part of the SuperSport offering on DStv.
World Rugby said the agreement strengthens rugby’s global reach and supports the growth of the sport across Africa. Under the deal, fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will be able to watch Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 live on SuperSport.
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will run from 1 October to 13 November 2027. The tournament will expand to 24 teams for the first time and introduce a round of 16 knockout stage. That format change means more teams, more matches and a wider pathway for emerging rugby nations.
For South Africa, the tournament carries major weight. The Springboks will arrive as defending champions after winning the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. They will be chasing a historic fifth title in Australia.
The deal also matters for Zimbabwe, which returns to the Men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1991. World Rugby highlighted Zimbabwe’s qualification as part of the broader development of the game across the region.
World Rugby Chief Revenue Officer Michel Poussau said the organisation was pleased to partner with Canal+ to deliver broad coverage of rugby’s major international competitions across Africa. He said the agreement was a major step in expanding the reach of the game and helping fans across the continent watch and engage more deeply with rugby.
Canal+ Africa CEO and MultiChoice CEO David Mignot said the rights agreement marked an important moment for Canal+ and MultiChoice because it secured several major rugby tournaments for subscribers. He said the group wanted to ensure subscribers did not miss out on major sports content from Africa and the rest of the world.
The agreement also includes coverage of other World Rugby competitions, including the World Rugby Junior World Championship, which has expanded to 16 teams, and the Pacific Nations Cup. That gives the deal value beyond the two World Cups, especially for fans who follow rugby pathways, junior internationals and emerging nations.
SuperSport also reported that Canal+ confirmed SuperSport will remain the exclusive broadcaster for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship after a multi-year broadcast-rights renewal. That is important for South African rugby fans because the URC includes the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions.
SA Rugby separately confirmed in May that it had renewed a multi-year domestic broadcast-rights agreement with Canal+, MultiChoice Group’s parent company. That agreement keeps the relationship between SA Rugby and SuperSport in place for domestic rugby coverage.
The timing matters because South African sports broadcasting has been under scrutiny since Canal+ became MultiChoice’s parent company. Some DStv subscribers have questioned how the changing ownership structure could affect the SuperSport bouquet. This Rugby World Cup confirmation gives rugby fans some certainty on one of the country’s most-watched sporting events.
There are still public-interest questions around sports access. Rugby World Cup coverage on SuperSport means many fans will depend on paid television access unless separate free-to-air sublicensing agreements are reached later. That issue has mattered before in South Africa, where major national sporting events often trigger debate over who gets to watch and how.
For now, the confirmed position is that Canal+ has secured the rights for SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa. Details on any future free-to-air arrangements, highlights packages or sublicensing have not been confirmed in the World Rugby announcement.
For Cape Town rugby supporters, the deal locks in a familiar viewing route before a major period for the sport. The Springboks will defend their title in 2027, South African franchises remain central to the URC, and the women’s game is building momentum after South Africa became the first African team to reach the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
The broadcast deal gives SuperSport and Canal+ a strong rugby platform. The next question for supporters will be price, access and how much rugby remains available beyond premium subscribers.
Q&A:
What has Canal+ confirmed?
Canal+ has confirmed an agreement with World Rugby to broadcast Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 on SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Where will South African fans watch Rugby World Cup 2027?
The confirmed broadcast platform is SuperSport on DStv across Sub-Saharan Africa.
When is Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027?
The tournament will take place in Australia from 1 October to 13 November 2027.
Why is the 2027 tournament important?
It will expand to 24 teams for the first time and introduce a round of 16 knockout stage.
What did World Rugby say?
World Rugby said the agreement is part of expanding the reach and visibility of rugby’s major competitions across Africa.
What remains unclear?
Any future free-to-air sublicensing, highlights packages or broader access arrangements have not yet been confirmed in the World Rugby announcement.
SAI Search Summary:
Canal+ has confirmed an agreement with World Rugby to broadcast Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 live on SuperSport across Sub-Saharan Africa. The deal gives DStv subscribers continued access to the Springboks’ next World Cup campaign in Australia. World Rugby says the agreement supports rugby’s growth and visibility across Africa, while Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot says the deal reflects a commitment to subscribers and major sports content. The agreement also includes other World Rugby competitions, while SuperSport remains central to South African rugby broadcasting.
Source: World Rugby – Media Release; SuperSport – Staff Reporter; SA Rugby – Official Statement.
