2013 Rugby League World Cup on the BBC
The BBC is set to offer audiences its most comprehensive ever Rugby League World Cup coverage when the 2013 tournament kicks off at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on October 26. Television, radio, online and mobile coverage combine to give audiences extensive access to live games, highlights, interviews and analysis throughout every step of the competition.
Mark Chapman will present the BBC’s television coverage, with commentary from Dave Woods and Ray French. They will be joined by a team of experts, including Brian Noble, Jonathan Davies and Robbie Hunter-Paul. In addition, former Great Britain and England Captain Jamie Peacock will join the BBC team for the tournament.
There will be live television coverage of all England’s group games, including the Opening Ceremony and game against Australia on October 26, as well as a quarter final match, a semi final showdown at Wembley and the Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford on November 30. Tanya Arnold will present a regular highlights programme throughout the tournament, incorporating all the action from games not shown live.
Every game of the entire tournament will be broadcast live on either BBC Radio 5 live or 5 live sports extra with expert commentary courtesy of Dave Woods, George Riley and Stuart Pyke. Pundit Jon Wells joins the team, with Jamie Peacock and other BBC experts featuring throughout the programming. In addition to the live commentary, Radio 5 live will bring all the news, interviews and analysis from the World Cup to audiences throughout, as well as a daily podcast.
To kick-off the proceedings Mark Chapman will present a special preview forum show from Cardiff, which will be live on the BBC Red Button and simulcast on Radio 5 live (7.30-9.00pm, 24 August), with an audience and special guests.
The BBC Sport website will provide comprehensive coverage across the entire World Cup, including a live stream of all matches shown on television and audio commentary of those live on radio, with live text commentary available for all home nations matches. The website will also feature reports on every fixture plus the latest news and analysis from the BBC’s expert team throughout the tournament.
Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, says: “As we look forward to our coverage of the Rugby League World Cup, the BBC’s commitment to rugby league is greater than ever for audiences across all of our platforms. We’re proud to be the terrestrial home of live England International action from the World Cup which builds on our continuing live coverage of the Challenge Cup, our highlights coverage of Super League and future live International rugby league."
BBC Sport has committed to broadcasting live International rugby league for the next four years, including the Four Nations in 2014 and 2016 and the next World Cup in 2017.
