Amidst the record deal agreed for the TV rights of the Top 14, we review the current status of TV rights deals across the major domestic rugby union competitions.
In May 2024, French broadcaster Canal+ secured a £589.9 million deal to retain the rights to the Top 14 and Pro D2 for five years, from 2027 to 2032. This represents a 14.7% increase compared to the previous agreement. This significant increase contrasts sharply with the financial status of the English Premiership, where three top division clubs (Worcester Warriors, Wasps, and London Irish) have gone bust. Equally, the last TV deal for the English Premiership saw a reduction of approximately 8% compared to the previous period.
Domestic Club Rugby Union TV Rights Value per Year
In millions of £GBP.
Domestic Club Rugby Union TV Rights Value 2023/24 Season
In millions of £GBP.
Key Takeaways
£59.13M
The difference in annual TV rights value between the Top 14 & Premiership for the 2023/24 season.
£62.9M
The average annual TV rights value across the 4 major rugby union leagues (Top 14, Premiership, Super Rugby & URC).
The Top 14 has established itself as the most lucrative rugby union competition for several years. The recent TV deal is likely to amplify this disparity. Although we lack visibility on future agreements for other major domestic competitions, it appears that none are matching the interest and audience sizes that the French leagues command.
Stadium attendances are notably lower, and several clubs have faced financial difficulties, with some even ceasing operations. This is evident in the Premiership with the collapse of Worcester Warriors, Wasps, and London Irish, as well as in Super Rugby with the financial struggles of the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.
Both the Premiership and Super Rugby, along with the United Rugby Championship (URC), have significant work ahead to attract and engage supporters in the same way the Top 14 does, both domestically and globally.
