P&O Cruises and Cunard Line will be making sure sporting fans can keep up to date while on their cruise holidays, as the Rugby World Cup 2011 will be screened on board the 10 ships within their fleets.

A total of 24 matches will be shown, starting from the opening game today and including all four Home Nations matches, quarter finals, semi finals, bronze final and then the final, on October 23, 2011.

Matches will be shown live or recorded within 24 hours of the original kick-off time to enable games to be shown at convenient times for the ships in their various locations.

Games will be shown in popular sporting bars, pubs and other venues on board.

Carnival UK entertainment services general manager, Paul Wright, said: “The Rugby World Cup is of great interest to many of our passengers and we’re pleased that nobody will miss out by being on holiday with us throughout this time. At any one time we could have more than 19,000 passengers on board and rooting for one of the Four Nations to bring home the trophy.

“Not only will the games be shown but ships will be decorated and the officers and crew will really get behind the teams to support them and to celebrate with passengers. It should be a fantastic way to witness this great sporting event.”