NBC Sports has signed a broadcast deal with World Rugby ©Getty Images

World Rugby and NBC Sports Group have announced a seven-year partnership for exclusive rights to broadcast major international events in the sport in the United States.

The deal, the biggest of its kind for rugby in the United States, features rights to the world’s most prestigious 15-a-side and sevens events.

NBC had previously broadcast one semi-final and the final of the 2015 World Cup.

Major tournaments set to be broadcast by NBC as part of the new deal include the Japan 2019 and 2023 men's World Cups as well as this year's women’s World Cup in Ireland and the 2021 edition.

Rugby sevens action within the deal include the 2018 World Cup in San Francisco and the 2022 version of the tournament.

NBC has also secured the annual World Rugby Under-20 Championship from 2017 to 2023.

"The US is one of the fastest-growing markets for rugby participation and fan growth and this exciting and unprecedented deal with one of the world’s most prestigious broadcasters will ensure that more people than ever before in the US will be able to access the world’s top men’s and women’s 15-a-side and sevens events," said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

"NBC will be the destination for rugby in the US."

It has been claimed the sport's fan base in the US has gone past the 40 million people mark.

The sport has grown in the US in recent years with New Zealand, pictured, playing Ireland in an international match at Chicago's Soldier Field last year ©Getty Images
The sport has grown in the US in recent years with New Zealand, pictured, playing Ireland in an international match at Chicago's Soldier Field last year ©Getty Images

This has been put down to rugby sevens’ debut at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

In recent years a number of high profile rugby matches have also taken place in the US.

Ireland defeated New Zealand 40-29 at Chicago's Soldier Field in November while Saracens and London Irish played an English Premiership match at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, last year.

Premiership Rugby announced last week that they had struck a new four-year deal to stage matches in the US.

The first will take place on September 16 and will see Saracens face Newcastle Falcons in Philadelphia.

“This agreement is the culmination of years of cultivating our rugby portfolio," added NBC Sports Group President of Programming, Jon Miller.

"It began with US collegiate rugby clubs and now, through this unprecedented agreement, includes the greatest tournaments, teams, players and coaches in the world.

“Whether it is men’s or women’s, sevens or 15-a-side, professionals or amateurs, rugby fans can rest assured that they will have more access to more premier rugby content than has ever been possible in the US.”