LAFAYETTE, Colo. – Rugby International Marketing, the commercial arm of USA Rugby, has officially launched TheRugbyChannel.tv, a subscription-based online service offering exclusive live and on-demand coverage of top-tier domestic and international rugby matches. TheRugbyChannel.tv began operations this past weekend via a mobile-responsive web site and native iOS and Android mobile apps, with apps for tablets and other connected devices coming in the near future.

The groundbreaking “over the top” video platform features both free and paid rugby content. Highlights of global matches, news bulletins, interviews and short features are available free of charge, along with fixtures and live scores from competitions around the world. Paying subscribers receive access to exclusive live event programming, including USA men’s and women’s national team test matches, weekly matchups from the Guinness Pro12 league in Europe, the Women’s Sevens World Series and various World Rugby-sanctioned international tournaments. Subscribers can also stay abreast of the latest developments in the game through World Rugby TV, a weekly newsmagazine show, and relive historic moments in American and international rugby through the match archives of USA Rugby, the England Rugby Football Union and the Rugby World Cup.

"We are thrilled to announce the launch of The Rugby Channel,” said Nigel Melville, CEO of Rugby International Marketing and USA Rugby. “This immersive digital platform provides a depth and breadth of coverage that rugby has never enjoyed before in this country. Coming on the heels of an exciting 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and just before the USA men’s and women’s sevens teams enter the Summer Olympics in Rio, the launch of the channel will help immensely to grow the sport’s visibility and popularity in America.”

Among the unique features of The Rugby Channel are an HD video player, user personalization, social-sharing functions and calendar syncing of global rugby fixtures. Play-by-play, real-time statistics and Twitter feed aggregation are also offered for those matches streamed live on the platform.

Users of at least 13 years of age can subscribe to the channel for a special introductory fee of $4.99 per month, or take an annual subscription for $49.99. All subscription offers include a free 30-day trial to start.

Rugby International Marketing developed The Rugby Channel in collaboration with Omnigon, a leading digital consulting company within the sports and entertainment industries, based in New York. Omnigon developed the official 2015 Rugby World Cup mobile app, downloaded by more than three million users across 204 countries; other clients include AS Roma, PGA TOUR, FOX Sports, Miami Heat, NASCAR, Arsenal FC and Little League International.