BBC Sport has announced how it will be covering this Autumn’s Rugby World Cup, with live radio and digital coverage throughout the competition.
There will be content produced every day, including a special preview show simulcast on the Red Button and Radio 5 Live and hosted by Mark Chapman.
The Radio 5 Live team will be joined by former All-Black fly-half Andrew Mehrtens, former New Zealand team mate Justin Marshall and the most-capped Australian full-back, Matt Burke. The line-up also includes World Cup winner Matt Dawson and ex-internationals Jonathan Davies, Paul Grayson, Gavin Hastings, Dennis Hickie, Rob Jones, John Kirwan and Ugo Monye.
“I’m really excited about the breadth of our radio and online content from the Rugby World Cup – encompassing all the stories, discussion and interviews plus of course the brilliant 5 live commentaries. Our line-up, led by correspondent Ian Robertson, will bring unparalleled expertise and insight to audiences throughout every day of the tournament, breaking the latest news and capturing all the action of what promises to be a great World Cup,” said Richard Burgess, BBC’s head of radio sport.
5 Live will be providing live commentary for every home nations game as well as those for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Mark Pougatch and Sonja McLaughlan will present the radio coverage of the event, with Robertson leading the commentary, backed up by Alastair Eykyn, Sara Orchard, Chris Jones, Andrew Cotter, Gareth Lewis and Iain Carter.
The BBC Sport app has been updated to provide rugby alerts, with the latest line-ups, match stats and scores. There will be online analysis from former England centre Jeremy Guscott, in his exclusive BBC Sport column.
A number of shows have also been commissioned with Matt Dawson hosting a preview on Matt Dawson’s Rugby Show, while Chapman will host Monday Night Rugby Club to look back on the weekend’s games.
Radio 5 Live will present live outside broadcasts from stadiums where the home nations games are taking place, with 5 Live Breakfast coming from Twickenham on the morning of the opening day.
