France Rugby Outperforms Football in TV Viewership Despite South Africa Loss
Despite a 17-32 defeat against South Africa last Saturday,the French national rugby team,the XV of France,has achieved a important victory – in television audiences. The loss,while impactful given high expectations,hasn’t diminished the team’s pull with viewers,even surpassing that of the national football team,the Blues.
The Springboks‘ win, playing with 14 players against France’s 15, carries weight as they are the reigning world champions. Though,Fabien Galthié’s squad is proving to be a powerful draw for broadcasters.
Figures from last Saturday’s France-South Africa match on TF1 demonstrate this shift. The game attracted 6.2 million viewers, capturing a substantial 35% market share. In contrast, Thursday evening’s 2026 World Cup qualifier between Didier Deschamps’ football team and Ukraine garnered 5.12 million viewers, representing a 27% market share.
TF1 Eyes French Rugby rights
These numbers explain TF1’s increasing interest in securing the television rights for the French XV. The rugby team is now viewed as an audience driver at least on par with, and perhaps exceeding, the popularity of french football.
This trend is expected to continue with upcoming matches. While Sunday’s Azerbaijan-France football qualifier at 6 p.m. is anticipated to draw a smaller crowd, the French XV is scheduled for two prime-time games: against Fiji on Saturday evening in Bordeaux, and against Australia the following week. TF1 is keenly anticipating these broadcasts.
The growing viewership suggests a potential turning point in French sports broadcasting, with rugby increasingly challenging football’s long-held dominance.
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