Local rugby fans are likely to be tired but very happy in the coming weeks.

They will finally get live action from the Rugby World Cup ? and the timing couldn?t have been better!

A deal brokered by the World Rugby Classic organisation will ensure Bermuda residents can watch this weekend?s quarter-finals as well as the semi-finals and final as they unfold in Australia. Prior to this, lovers of the game here had to be content with days-old delayed feed of matches.

The four quarter-final fixtures will be shown on ZFB-TV 7 this Saturday and Sunday at 3.30 and 6.00 each morning. The better of the two Saturday games will be repeated at midnight while both Sunday matches will be re-televised from 8.30 a.m.

The two semi-finals can be seen at 5 a.m. on November 15 (midnight repeat) and November 16 (12.30 p.m. repeat) while the third-place play-off will be broadcast on November 20 at 5 a.m. (midnight repeat).

On November 22, local fans can join in the worldwide excitement of the final live at 5 a.m. or tune in for a repeat at midnight.

President of the World Rugby Classic John Kane is pleased to have been able to strike a partnership with the Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) and various sponsors, particularly Montpelier Re, to bring the best in rugby into Bermudian homes.

?I?ve been trying to get the right people together since the tournament started and last week we managed to contact IMG (International Marketing Group) which has the rights to the World Cup and they told us it was possible to bring in the games,? said Kane.

?So we got them together with Bermuda Broadcasting and then we found out the costs involved. I went out to the community and we got sponsorship to meet these costs. Montpelier Re came back with the biggest chunk and without them it wouldn?t have happened,? he explained, adding there was also input from Argonaut Limited, Deloitte and the World Rugby Classic.

?It will be great for insomniacs. People like to watch these games live . . . it?s one of the biggest sporting events in the world and, as far as I?m concerned, it?s not right that Bermudians were not able to see it on a timely basis and that?s what we?ve managed to put together.?

Programme Manager of BBC Darlene Ming expressed similar sentiments.

?We are delighted to be able to offer this to sports fans. It?s always a pleasure to be able to show world-class sport, in this case rugby.

?We have this opportunity once again to bring it to the public and we?ve been able to do it with the matches that matter the most, starting with the quarter-finals,? she said.

However, Ming lamented there was still no joy for cricket fans as negotiations are yet to be settled between the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) and SportsMax ? the rights holders for television and radio coverage of the West Indies tour to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

However, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica reached separate deals with SportsMax to secure coverage ahead of the start of the regional team?s first Test in Zimbabwe yesterday.