Premier Sports secures full Junior World Championship coverage in expanded 16-team tournament

Premier Sports has secured the rights to broadcast every match of the 2025 World Rugby Junior World Championship, with the 40-game tournament taking place in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July.

This year’s edition has been expanded to 16 teams, up from previous editions, with South Africa beginning their title defence against Uruguay on the opening day. Pool matches run from 27 June to 7 July, before the knockout and ranking stages culminate in Finals Day on 18 July. Venues in Tbilisi and Kutaisi will host the action throughout.

The deal extends Premier Sports’ growing footprint in international rugby, following the broadcaster’s first involvement in the Six Nations earlier this year, when five of the 15 matches were streamed. The company already holds rights to the United Rugby Championship and the EPCR’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

Premier Sports CEO Richard Sweeney said the Junior World Championship represented “the most important age-grade tournament in the global rugby calendar and an exciting glimpse into the sport’s future.” He added that URC and EPCR followers were “increasingly interested in the players coming through the pathway system” and that the tournament offered a chance to watch future stars “before many of these players become household names.”

Premier Sports will broadcast the tournament in tandem with RugbyPass TV.