Universal Sports Network Presents Rugby World Cup 2015 Preview Show This Friday, September 4 at 10 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES (August 31, 2015) – With less than three weeks until Rugby World Cup 2015, Universal Sports Network presents a one-hour preview show this Friday, September 4, at 10 p.m. ET. The Rugby World Cup 2015 Preview Show will be hosted by commentator Bill Seward alongside analyst and former USA Sevens captain Brian Hightower.

The Preview Show will feature a complete review the Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament format and provide in-depth analysis of the 20 nation field, an exclusive interview with USA Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin and a breakdown of the defending champion New Zealand All Blacks.

In addition to match analysis, the preview show will provide an overview of the host country. Earlier this summer, VisitBritain, the national tourist board for England, Scotland and Wales, partnered with Universal Sports to film experiences in England, highlighting heritage, culture and sport ahead of the Rugby World Cup. VisitBritain arranged for USA Rugby Sevens star Carlin Isles and Universal Sports’ Nick Gismondi to tour Rugby World Cup host cities including London, Leeds, Manchester and Brighton and the town of Rugby – home of the sport.

“The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and we are excited to showcase it to an American audience,” said Dean Walker, SVP of production, Universal Sports Network. “Through Universal Sports’ additional rugby programming including our exclusive preview show, both new and longstanding fans of the sport will be well prepared to watch what is sure to be an exciting tournament in England.”

From September 18 through October 31, 2015, Universal Sports and NBC Sports will broadcast nine of the tournament’s 48 matches. Universal Sports kicks off coverage on Friday, September 18 at 2 p.m. ET with the Opening Ceremony, followed by the opening match between host country England and Fiji. Universal Sports will broadcast LIVE coverage all of Team USA’s matches in pool play. NBC will broadcast LIVE coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final on Saturday, October 31 at 12 p.m. ET. A complete list of TV and Digital viewing options can be found at UniversalSports.com/WatchRugby.

The Rugby World Cup is one of the largest and most avidly watched sporting events in the world, drawing an estimated 3.9 billion cumulative global TV audience in 207 territories during the 2011 event in New Zealand. The 2015 tournament field consists of 20 different nations, including defending champion New Zealand and the United States, who will compete over the course of six weeks for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand and Australia jointly hosted the first edition of the Rugby World Cup in 1987.

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About Universal Sports Network

Universal Sports Network, a partnership between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, LP, is the premier multi-platform media destination for Olympic-related sports programming in the United States. Offering more than 1,200 hours of original programming each year, Universal Sports has exclusive rights to world and national championship events in a wide array of sports, including swimming, track and field, gymnastics, cycling, skiing, figure skating and rugby. Whether on television, online, or on the go with mobile and tablet applications, Universal Sports offers a four-screen experience to fans of global sports every day of the year. For more information, please visit UniversalSports.com.