In a blow to rugby fans in South Africa, it has been confirmed that the SABC will not be broadcasting the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

SuperSport announced a failure to reach an agreement with the SABC for the sub-licensing of broadcast rights to the highly-anticipated 2023 Rugby World Cup, which gets underway on Friday.

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This is despite months of negotiations and multiple allegedly reasonable proposals put forward by SuperSport, all of which were rejected by the SABC.

“SuperSport has approached these discussions in good faith, reflecting its genuine commitment to the nation’s rugby enthusiasts. It has used its best efforts to conclude a fair and commercially viable agreement. Regrettably, all proposals made by SuperSport have been declined by the SABC.”

The setback means that there is a serious concern around the accessibility of the world cup to the general public in South Africa, as many locals are unable to afford a DSTV subscription and are relying on the public broadcaster to secure the broadcasting rights.

With a week to go until the Springboks start the quest to retain the Webb Ellis Cup against Scotland, South Africans will have to hope that a resolution can be reached.

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