The Rugby World Cup has got off to a flying start with England scraping an ugly win over Argentina, while Australia and New Zealand hammered their opponents.
But with the local distributors not having the rights to broadcast, where can you watch a game?
The Rugby World Cup is considered to be the third largest sports event in the world, attracting an estimated television audience of four billion in 2007, according to information available on the official Rugby World Cup 2011 website.
The hosts are New Zealand, the home of the All Blacks, who cruised to an opening night win. They are hoping to re-live memories of 1987 and win the tournament. The World Cup comes to an end on 23 October.
20 nations are hoping to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy, but only one team can be winners. Some 70,000 visitors are expected to travel to New Zealand for the tournament, making it the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand.
The final will be played in Auckland on Sunday 23 October, at Eden Park.
Although the number of rugby enthusiasts out there are not as numerous as football fans, the sport and the world cup event, happening once every four years, is gaining popularity. Yet none of the local distributors have rights to broadcast the event.
Somewhat dismayed, especially since a number of matches will be taking place at awkward times, local enthusiasts are discussing results on the Facebook fan zone: IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 - Malta Fanzone.
This is described to be: “The place for all Maltese Rugby Enthusiasts to get all the latest information and videos from the action in New Zealand”. Anyone is free to join, add ‘rugby friends’ and share information.
Among the bars and clubs that are opening in the mornings specifically for the Rugby World Cup is Nordic Bar in Paceville, which is showing all matches, and a number of others including, The Dubliner in St Julian’s, De Olde Keg Pub in Paceville, the Salisbury Arms, Sliema, Paolo Naufrago Bar, Valletta, and Footloose Fun Bar in Paceville are showing selected matches.
For those not happy to leave home so early, the following suggested websites may provide an alternative:
http://atdhenet.tv/
http://www.myp2p.bz/livesports.php
http://myp2p.im/index.html
http://www.footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links
http://www.freefootball.eu/upcoming.php
http://www.lshunter.tv/football-live-streaming-video.html
http://www.sportyfever.com/
http://www.firstrowsports.eu/
http://wwitv.com/tv_channels/b5248.htm