World Rugby and Samsung have partnered to launch the RugbyPass TV FAST channel on Samsung TV Plus. Now available in the UK and coming soon in the US, the collaboration is the latest development in scaling-up the global digital footprint of RugbyPass TV as it looks to grow rugby’s audience share in key markets.
The collaboration marks the first time RugbyPass TV content will be available on a FAST platform, extending the reach of the leading app and broadcast platform to millions of US and UK households via Samsung TV Plus.
The channel offers a curated mix of live international action, feature programming, and classic matches – all available for free to millions of households. The launch represents a major step forward in World Rugby’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible rugby content to broader and more diverse audiences across two of its key growth markets, laying the groundwork for a transformational decade of rugby leading into the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033.
The RugbyPass TV FAST channel will play a significant role in Samsung’s continued commitment to expand the variety of premium sports content on Samsung TV Plus, making even more sports content free to access for broader audiences. For World Rugby, the collaboration will make the sport more discoverable to casual viewers and avid fans alike, expanding the sport’s addressable share of attention. It also reflects a growing appetite among sports fans for premium content without the paywall – an opportunity World Rugby is seizing to build fandom at scale.
As part of the collaboration, Samsung TV Plus will showcase RugbyPass TV’s blend of live content, including rugby sevens, original programming documentaries and series, classic matches and in-depth analysis, ensuring something for all sports fans.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said: “With the US and UK representing two of rugby’s most important and promising markets, this exciting collaboration with Samsung TV Plus is a major milestone in our journey to grow the game globally. Through RugbyPass TV FAST, we’re bringing the excitement, diversity, and global appeal of the game to more fans, in more homes, than ever before.”
Head of Samsung TV Plus EMEA Gus Grimaldi added: “RugbyPass TV is a global leader in rugby content, and we’re thrilled to bring their first-ever FAST channel to Samsung TV Plus users in the UK. This launch not only enhances our sports offering but introduces a beloved sport to new fans by removing the paywall.”
In the US, the launch complements World Rugby’s broadcast partnership with CBS Sports and Paramount+.
