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Rugby Canada has confirmed an historic multi-year agreement with CBC Sports to broadcast their national sevens programs. The deal, which began with last weekend’s Dubai Sevens, will see CBC Sports live stream the HSBC Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens on both their website and mobile app, as well as providing mainstream CBC television coverage.
The deal is set to run through the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, with both parties keen to build on the increasing popularity of the sport following its addition to the Olympic schedule at the Rio Games in 2016. Canada’s women’s team earned a Bronze Medal at the inaugural Olympic Sevens. While the men did not ultimately qualify for the 12-team competition, they have made significant advances following the hiring of Damian McGrath as Head Coach and now look more likely to reach their Olympic goal in 2020.
CBC Sports Executive Director Greg Stremlaw said the future is bright for the sport in a media release.
“As we saw during Rio 2016, sevens is a fast-paced and entertaining sport and this multi-year partnership with Rugby Canada strengthens CBC Sports’ offering to world-class competition outside of the Olympic Games. We look forward to featuring rugby sevens to our audience and helping grow its popularity across the country. Canada has a long history in international rugby and the success of the Bronze Medal-winning women’s sevens team in Rio indicates that there is a bright future in this discipline.”
Meanwhile Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen was understandably delighted with the announcement.
“Today’s announcement marks a new era for rugby sevens in Canada as one of the fastest growing team sports becomes available to a wider sporting audience through CBC Sports’ platforms. As witnessed by the record coverage of rugby sevens’ Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro, CBC Sports continues to be a world-leader in communicating the stories of inspirational athletes and teams as they build on their journey to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
“Last year, Canada’s men’s sevens team made history by winning their first-ever cup title in Singapore while our women’s sevens team captured their third tournament title in Sydney, Australia. CBC Sports’ partnership proves rugby sevens is a sport with tremendous momentum and we look forward to building on what is an exciting future for rugby in Canada and around the world.”
CBC’s live coverage continues this weekend with the Men’s Team in action at the Cape Town Sevens. Live streaming begins at 3am Eastern time on Saturday morning.
