• Hosts: Jim Wilson and Laurie Daley, key commentators: Mark Braybrook, Andrew Moore and Dan Ginnane
The Seven Network has confirmed its key anchor, commentary and special analysts team for its coverage of this year’s Rugby League World Cup and the Women’s Rugby League World Cup from 27 October to 2 December 2017.
Seven’s agreement for the Rugby League World Cup 2017 delivers all rights in Australia including free-to-air broadcast television and subscription television rights, online, mobile, and expands to Seven’s digital and mobile platforms. Seven has also been appointed to undertake the host broadcast for international television of all games played in Australia in the Rugby League World Cup.
Seven’s head of sport Saul Shtein said: “We’re delighted to be the network of this year’s Rugby League World Cup and the Women’s Rugby League World Cup. We are also delighted to have secured such an outstanding group of people who will bring both Cups to millions not only here in Australia but around the world. We are looking forward to being a partner with the Rugby League World Cup and the Women’s Rugby League World Cup. Both will be remarkable. And broadcast live in our primetime.”
Seven’s coverage will be hosted by Jim Wilson and Laurie Daley. Also joining Seven’s coverage will be Renee Gartner and Allana Ferguson.
Play-by-play commentators for the Rugby League World Cup 2017 are: Mark Braybrook, Andrew Moore and Dan Ginnane. Joining them are: Allanna Ferguson, Gary Belcher, Adrian Morley, Brett Kimmorley, Ryan Girdler, Scott Sattler, Brent Tate and Andrew Ryan.
Glen Larmer will be the ball-by-ball caller alongside Daryl Halligan and Monty Betham in New Zealand.
Covering the Women’s Rugby League World Cup are David Tapp, Drury Forbes, Bill Harrigan, Nathan Cayless, Andrew Ryan and Renee Gartner.
Mel McLaughlin, Michelle Bishop, Josh Massoud, Liam Cox, Shane Webcke, Pat Welsh and Chris Garry from Seven News also join Seven’s Rugby League World Cup and Women’s Rugby League World Cup team.
Kurt Burnette, Seven’s chief revenue officer and event director, Rugby League World Cup 2017, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, said: “The Rugby League World Cup, live in primetime on Seven, underlines the power of television in delivering big audiences and powering the conversation and audience across all screens through video.
“An Australian and global audience will see the best in the world compete in our primetime. We have the best in the business to deliver an outstanding coverage. The Rugby League World Cup is the starting point for a remarkable six months of major sports events on Seven, including the Melbourne Cup, the major golf tournaments in Australia, the Australian Open Tennis, the Olympic Winter Games, the Commonwealth Games and the 2018 AFL season all in our timezone. This will be the largest premium events schedule on a single television network this country has ever seen, across every screen to all Australians.”
This year’s Rugby League World Cup will be played in 13 cities across hosting nations Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from 27 October to 2 December 2017. 14 teams will play 28 games over five weeks in front of an expected 450,000 fans, making it the largest sporting event in the region this year.
The first match sees Australia play England in Melbourne on October 27.
Photo [L-R]: Brett Kimmorley, Renee Gartner, Jim Wilson, Laurie Daley and Dan Ginnane