CANAL+ Locks In Rugby World Cup Rights for Sub-Saharan Africa
Image by Canal+
CANAL+ Group has confirmed a broadcast agreement with World Rugby, securing live rights to the Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women's Rugby World Cup 2029 across Sub-Saharan Africa via SuperSport and DStv.
The announcement landed alongside a separate milestone for the French media group - its formal listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), following its acquisition of MultiChoice Group.
An expanded tournament, African representation
The Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 will be held in Australia from 1 October to 13 November, with two African nations - South Africa and Zimbabwe - set to feature. The 11th edition of the tournament marks a structural shift: the field expands to 24 teams and introduces a round of 16 for the first time.
South Africa's Springboks arrive as back-to-back defending champions, having won in Japan (2019) and France (2023), and will be chasing an unprecedented fifth title. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, returns to the global stage for the first time since 1991 - a 36-year absence for the Sables.
On the women's side, England's Red Roses enter the 2029 tournament as defending champions after winning the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 on home soil, in what became a record-breaking competition for viewership and attendance. South Africa also made history in that tournament, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time - the first African team to do so.
What's included in the deal?
The agreement covers World Rugby's broader men's 15s calendar, including the Junior World Championship (recently expanded to 16 teams) and the Pacific Nations Cup. CANAL+ also confirmed a multi-year renewal of SuperSport's exclusive rights to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC).
The rugby rights arrive alongside a separate football partnership: CANAL+ recently secured a broadcast agreement with the Premier Soccer League (PSL), adding South Africa's top-flight domestic football competition to its content slate. Together, the announcements shows a deliberate strategy to consolidate premium live sports - under the SuperSport and DStv umbrella.
World Rugby Chief Revenue Officer Michel Poussau called the partnership "a major step in expanding the reach of the game" across the continent, with a stated goal of deepening fan engagement and inspiring the next generation of players.
CANAL+ Africa CEO David Mignot added that the rights confirmation reflects the group's commitment to putting subscribers first - "ensuring they never miss out on the best sports content from the continent and from across the globe."
The partnership consolidates premium rugby coverage under one roof at a pivotal moment - a home African team defending a world title, a historic return for Zimbabwe, and a women's game growing faster than ever. CANAL+’s MultiChoice acquisition, was always about content leverage, and these rights are among the most commercially valuable in African sport.
