Article content

Hoping to watch the All Blacks in Chicago this weekend? I hope you bought a ticket for the game itself.

This is not going to be a good autumn to be a rugby fan in Canada.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Looking for rugby's November tours on Canadian TV? Don't hold your breath. Back to video

With TV rights prices shooting up in the UK and France, Canadian broadcasters have said, “no thanks.”

When not even pub and bar pay-per-view vendor Premium Sports declines to pick up the rights, you know things are bad.

Yes, the asking price for overseas rights to international rugby matches from Ireland and the UK are obviously so high, Canadian vendors don’t see a way to make any money in re-selling them to venues who would charge a cover charge to interested fans, let alone via standard television distribution.

That’s why, for example, there’s no way in Canada, legally, to watch this weekend’s Ireland vs. New Zealand — or any of the All Blacks games this month.

Want to watch Wales vs. Australia on Saturday? Nope, won’t be able to. England vs. South Africa on the 12th. Again, nope. New Zealand vs. France on Nov. 26? Again…ok you get the point. (UPDATE: TV5 has France’s games in French.)

We’re living in a rugby wasteland.

In fact, the only games available from overseas, other than Canada’s tour, are very low-rent. Japan’s home match vs. Argentina is one, the Barbarians’s matches vs. South Africa and Fiji and the New Zealand Maori matches vs. the USA and the Harlequins are the only offerings the US-based online streaming service the Rugby Channelhas the Canadian rights for.