Rugby World Cup boldly goes to International Space Station

The Rugby World Cup will have its first extra-terrestrial broadcast when South Africa's game against Italy is beamed to the International Space Station – 408 kilometres (253 miles) above Japan, organisers said on Thursday.

Governing body World Rugby is providing a special feed of Friday's game for Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano, a big rugby fan who this week took charge of the space station.

"Rugby is a fantastic game that celebrates friendship and teamwork," the European Space Agency astronaut said in a statement.

"Just like you have to work together to achieve a try, we on board the International Space Station have to collaborate with a team of astronauts and ground personnel from all over the world in order to achieve our objective, our 'try', which is space exploration, technology and science."

An out of this world good luck message from @esa astronaut @astro_luca to @Federugby team.

The rugby mad Italian fan will get to watch #RSAvITA from the International Space Station thanks to a special broadcast feed produced by World Rugby on Friday. #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/E5NjGOYz3R

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 3, 2019

The match is vital for both sides, with Italy top of Pool B and South Africa unable to afford any slip-ups if they want to reach the quarterfinals.

"It is an incredible feeling to know that the test match on Friday will reach the space station – rugby and Rugby World Cup truly are without borders," said Italy captain Sergio Parisse.