Rugby fans in 73 countries around the world can now watch every match of the Tri Nations, Super 14 and inbound Test matches live on the internet, after the South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions (SANZAR) struck a five-year deal with Mediazone, a leading global online broadcaster.

An additional 77 countries will be able to access the matches on an 18-hour delay.

The ground-breaking deal will allow expatriate supporters to watch their provincial and national teams just like they would as if they were at home. It will also give new Rugby fans around the world their first opportunity to watch the best Rugby that the Southern Hemisphere has to offer.

Mediazone's Rugby Channel includes every fixture from the Super 14, the whole SANZAR international season including the inbound Tests in June and the expanded Tri Nations series, the complete ABSA Currie Cup from South Africa, and the entire inaugural Air New Zealand Cup.

The Rugby Channel offers a year-long All Access Pass for US$129.99, or viewers can purchase competition-specific passes, or individual matches on a pay-per-view basis.

Fans simply need a broadband connection and a Windows-enabled PC to either watch the matches live or download them for viewing on demand at their own convenience.

Australian Rugby Union and SANZAR CEO Gary Flowers said Rugby was breaking new ground with the Mediazone deal.

"In the past, Rugby fans traveling or living overseas have had to rely on match reports on the web or live text commentaries to keep in touch with their teams," Flowers said.

"If they were really lucky, they might have had a friend or relative sending them tapes of matches."

“This new deal with Mediazone puts an end to that, making the matches available live to millions more people around the world.

"It doesn’t matter if you are in Canada or Croatia, the United States or Uzbekistan, Germany or Greenland, you will still be able to get live SANZAR Rugby on the internet."

Patrick Guthrie, Director of Rugby, Mediazone said it was a ground-breaking partnership.

"This is an ideal match. SANZAR was a pioneer in broadcasting professional rugby and now Mediazone is building on that entrepreneurial spirit by utilizing new technologies to expand coverage throughout the world."

"Even more importantly, Mediazone's Rugby Channel is run by people who love and understand the game and are dedicated to providing the very best and most authentic consumer experience possible, which begins by offering the highest quality rugby available anywhere."

Rugby Channel also provides free previews and highlights for every match, as well as giving fans a forum to discuss the laws of the game as well as the week’s best tries, plays and players.

Rugby Channel is not available in the following countries/regions: the African continent, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Cyprus, Greece, and Japan.

For more information and to check out the full offer, go to www.mediazone.com.