In a win for rugby supporters in South Africa, the SABC and SuperSport have reached a compromise on the coverage of the upcoming World Cup.

According to a statement released yesterday by MultiChoice, the SABC will broadcast 16 matches in total.

This includes:

• The opening ceremony and opening match.
• All four Springbok group matches.
• Two quarter-finals.
• One semi-final.
• The bronze final.
• The final and the closing ceremony.

Those matches will potentially feature the Boks, the defending champions. However, should Siya Kolisi and his men not qualify for the knockout stages, the above matches will still be available for broadcast.

“We are pleased to have reached an arrangement with the SABC in the spirit of cooperation,” said MultiChoice SA CEO Marc Jury.

“MultiChoice can confirm that, following acceptance by the SABC of a proposal made by MultiChoice on 18 August, it has reached an agreement in principle to sub-licence broadcast rights to the SABC for Rugby World Cup.”

The announcement comes after months of negotiations and multiple allegedly reasonable proposals put forward by SuperSport, all of which were rejected by the SABC.

Earlier this week it was confirmed that the SABC would not be broadcasting the World Cup after SuperSport announced a failure to reach an agreement with the public broadcaster for the sub-licensing of broadcasting rights to the highly anticipated tournament.

The tournament gets underway with a clash between hosts France and New Zealand today.

The Boks kick off their quest to retain the Webb Ellis Cup against Scotland in Marseille on Sunday.