Wilko's famous drop goal (2003)

Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) has announced that, subject to contract, ITV has been awarded the UK broadcast rights for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and host broadcast rights for Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.

The announcement follows a rigorous process managed by RWCL’s exclusive commercial agents IMG throughout June and July during which five parties submitted bids in response to the tender and subsequent shortlist process for the UK broadcast rights.

Under the terms of the new deal, ITV will broadcast live coverage of every match from the 2011 tournament in New Zealand and the 2015 tournament in England.

It's good news for American fans with all matches also to be shown online at www.itv.com with the deal also encompassing highlights and clips packages on television, online and mobile.

ITV has a long association with the Rugby World Cup, having broadcast every tournament since 1991. A UK audience of 15 million viewers watched on ITV1 as Jonny Wilkinson’s dramatic extra time drop goal secured England the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003.

Four years later, a UK audience of 16 million watched as England finished runners up to South Africa in France.

Rugby World Cup 2011, the seventh RWC, kicks off in New Zealand on September 9 and will feature the top 20 teams in the world competing across 48 tournament matches.

The final will be played on October 23, 2011 in Auckland.