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The tournament will begin on 9 September. INPHO/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga
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Rugby World Cup set for Antartica broadcast

The continent will be one of over 200 territories showing the tournament.

FOR THE FIRST time ever, people in Antartica will get the chance to view the Rugby World Cup.

The 15 people populating Scott Base – a research facility comprising of scientists and researchers – that includes 13 New Zealanders, one Australian and one Irishman, will be able to see all 48 matches live.

The tournament is being shown to the US McMurdo Station, which is the largest Antartic settlement, and is capable of supporting up to 1,258 inhabitants.

Mike Mahon, an IT administrator in the region, told reporters:

“The crew here, and our friends from the nearby US McMurdo Station, are definitely looking forward to cheering on the teams at what promises to be a superb Rugby World Cup.”

It is one of over 200 territories set to broadcast the tournament, which has come a long way since its inception in 1987.

It is not the only time that Antartica has come under the sporting spotlight of late. Following Fifa’s decision to award the hosting of 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a Facebook campaign jokingly called for the 2026 World Cup to take place on the continent.

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