The International channel is currently showing rugby. They have an on-line guide. Their program airs weekly on Sundays at 4.00 - 6.00 pm PST and typically includes a recent international or provincial match from one of the top rugby countries.
Unfortunately many have no access to the International Channel. If you can't persuade your local cable company to carry it you can receive their programming with a (C-band) satellite dish that can receive programming on a VCR 2+ decoder (standard). Call 1-800-766-6746 to order. More information can be obtained by calling the International channel at 310-826-2429. The address is
International Channel 12401 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064 Sr. VP/General Manager: Mr. George W. Leitner Director of Programming: Ms. Cynthia Martinez
In the past, regular rugby on normal TV channels has been mainly confined to Prime Sports affiliates. This channel had several hours of games from the World Cup 7s in 1993 and showed quite a few games from the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. They have in the past produced a program called Rugby World but it was mostly league and the standard of union games they did show on this program was frequently horrid. On the few occasions that they did condescend to show some USA internationals (e.g. vs France in 1991) the commentary was nothing less than incompetent.
People often ask why there is so little rugby on US TV when one can see league and even Aussie rules almost every week, even though hardly anybody in the US plays those sports. The answer is very simple. The Australian Rules and Rugby League authorities have been giving programming to US TV to promote their game. Rugby Unions though all seem to want big fees for the TV rights. TV stations have to make a profit and they need not only an audience but interest from advertisers or other revenue that will match the cost of the program.
ESPN and ESPN2 did both show the 1994 National Collegiate Championship final between Cal and Navy. They are interested in showing more rugby but the real crunch, as alluded to above, is whether it will be profitable for them. Polite letters requesting rugby may be sent to
Mr. Bernard Stewart, VP, Programming and Production/ESPN Int. ESPN International 605 Third Avenue, 8th Floor New York, NY 10158
A small network called Prime Ticket did also show one of the US vs Argentina tests from 1994 but they are localized to a few areas of the West.
If you can't get any of the above channels then try looking for a bar near you. There are several that show Five Nations games live for example and/or receive the International channel rugby program.
An alternative solution is to try and get access to a satellite dish.
pbickers@phys.uidaho.edu