RTÉ Announce Their Rugby World Cup Line-Up

RTÉ has announced details of its comprehensive cross-platform coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup coming later this month.

RTÉ will bring fans closer to the action as Joe Schmidt’s men bid for glory in Japan with all of Ireland’s games live across RTÉ, along with the entire knockout stages live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player, including the final itself in Yokohama on Saturday, November 2.

Former Ireland stars Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris will provide their expert opinion and analysis throughout the tournament alongside World Cup-winning Australian captain Michael Lynagh, the Ireland Women’s Grand Slam-winning captain Fiona Coghlan, former Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Brent Pope, Bernard Jackman, Ian Madigan, Rob Penney and Alastair Kellock.

Daire O’Brien will present coverage of all the live games on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player, with Donal Lenihan alongside Hugh Cahill on commentary. Clare MacNamara will helm 16 highlights programmes.

Declan McBennett, RTÉ Group Head of Sport, said:

We are delighted to follow the Irish journey in a hugely anticipated World Cup. Across all platforms RTÉ will bring the best coverage, the best analysis and the most comprehensive overview of the Irish performance.

“Together with total coverage of the knockout phase the tournament promises to deliver amazing moments and stories to match.”

RTÉ Player and 2fm will be turning Japanese with original shows and specially themed segments.

Brand new RTÉ Player shows include Trying Japanese, a challenge-based studio show where Ireland’s biggest rugby fans, including a host of familiar faces get a taste for all things Japanese. Punter V Pundit in which well known faces go head-to-head with RTÉ Sport’s top analysts to give their match predictions.

In The Opposition in 60 Seconds with Greg O’Shea, the Love Island winner and Ireland Sevens International will break down all you need to know about the team Ireland next face, and the Game in 60 Seconds will see our rugby know-it-alls break down each 80 minutes of action in just one minute.

2fm will also line out in support of Ireland’s World Cup journey. Over in Breakfast, Doireann and Eoghan will challenge some of Ireland’s best known acts to step it out in their Sumo Wrestling tournament. Jennifer Zamparelli has a challenge of her own called Jen’s Yen, while Jenny Greene will be sampling sushi, Japanese traditions and turning Japanese in her daily competition, Bonkers. 

Kicking off with the Opening Ceremony and Japan v Russia in the tournament’s opening game from Tokyo on Friday week (September 20), RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player will have live coverage of 14 games in total including Ireland v Scotland from Yokohama on Sunday, September 22, Ireland v Japan on Saturday, September 28 in Shizuoka, Ireland v Russia on Thursday, October 3 in Kobe, and Ireland v Samoa on Saturday, October 12 in Fukuoka.

Michael Corcoran will have live commentary of all of Ireland’s games on RTÉ Radio 1, and he will be joined on commentary by Bernard Jackman, former Munster head coach Rob Penney, and for Ireland v Scotland, former Scottland international Alastair Kellock.

Ian Madigan, Fiona Coghlan and Bernard Jackman will make up the RTÉ Radio 1 panel.

RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player will also have live coverage of France v Tonga on Sunday, October 6, along with all of the knockout stages – quarter-finals, semi-finals, the bronze final and the final. There will be live blogs, match reports, reaction and expert analysis on www.rte.ie from columnists Jonny Holland, Stephen Ferris, Fiona Steed and more.

In addition, fans can expect news and interviews from RTÉ’s team in Japan, as well as twice weekly podcasts featuring the likes of Daire O’Brien, Eddie O’Sullivan, Donal Lenihan and Bernard Jackman.