SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE said the club is “considering its position” after RTÉ stated its intention to broadcast the League of Ireland champions’ home game against Sligo Rovers next month on television.
Shamrock Rovers earlier this month publicised their grievances with the national broadcaster for its failure to televise any of the club’s eight European qualifiers this season, a run which resulted in Rovers guaranteeing group-stage football in the Uefa Conference League.
RTÉ informed The 42 at the time that it had informed the FAI as far back as November that for “financial and editorial reasons”, it would not be in a position to broadcast any of the League of Ireland clubs’ European qualifiers in 2024.
Aggrieved at RTÉ’s stance ahead of their Europa League play-off first leg away to Paok, and having hired a production company off their own back to ensure all eight of their European fixtures were made available on the LOITV streaming service, Rovers threatened to ban RTÉ from showing League of Ireland Premier Division fixtures from Tallaght Stadium for the rest of 2024.
Having been informed today that RTÉ intends to broadcast the club’s next home game against Sligo Rovers on 13 September, Shamrock Rovers issued a brief statement which read:
Shamrock Rovers F.C. was made aware of the intention of RTÉ TV to broadcast our next home league game on Sept 13th by the league communications office this morning. The club is considering its position on the matter.
However, it’s worth noting that RTÉ’s League of Ireland rights deal is with the FAI and not the league’s individual clubs. As such, Rovers would be in breach of their LOI participation agreement if they prevented RTÉ from broadcasting any league fixture from their home ground.
RTÉ has also added title-chasing Derry City’s home meeting with Shamrock Rovers on Friday 20 September to its schedule, while it will also show Derry’s home FAI Cup quarter-final against title rivals Shelbourne a weekend earlier on Saturday 14 September.
Hopefully the trio make it! They are an integral part of our Six Nations squad. Keep it up lads!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: lowe and Dan are part of the 6 nations squad but connors is nowhere near that squad. Hodnet, timoney, pendergast are all way ahead of him. Not to mention with conan going to 8 we have doris who can play 7 as can POM. Infact I’d rather see Scott penny get time for leinster than will.
@chris mcdonnell: I completely agree. I’d ate my own underpants if Connors is named tomorrow
@Niall Boyle: hopefully those pants are in better condition than the pair I wore on Sunday
@Niall Boyle: I’ll hold you to that
@chris mcdonnell: with the best will in the world POM cannot play 7 in the 6 Nations.
Hope they don’t rush Sheehan back this Saturday. 50 mins against the Stormers on the 25th of Jan and then into the 6 nations squad. Connors now needs to stay fit for the rest of the season if he wants to ever make an Ireland squad, at nearly 29 time is running out
Lowe is too slow. Osborne a better long term bet.
@conor carroll: Osbourne isn’t a wing, he can do the job but he’s a 12 or 15. Lowe being “slow” didn’t stop him being named in the world XV this year or being one of our best performing players.
@conor carroll: not on the wing he isnt,hes not a winger and it showed on sunday,great 12 and 15,lowe though offers far more on the left wing,breaks tackles,carries,big left boot and has vastly improved his defence,also always goes hunting for the ball and gets stuck in to mauls and excellent under the high ball,pace is not everything.
@conor carroll: Interesting statement. If you actually watched rugby you’d see that Lowe is probably quicker than Osborne in a foot race. Osborne has many, many strengths. Pace isn’t one of them.
@conor carroll: Nash is the pace merchant played all the 6 nations last year
Honestly, is Lowe still a starter for Leinster? I just really can’t see how you leave out Jamie Osborne even if he was rusty on the wing at the weekend, like his skill level for that try was ridiculous. He also has just a big left boot as Lowe.
@Eoin H: lowe is the left winger for both ireland and leinster.
@Eoin H: Osborne isn’t a winger and should only be playing there in a pinch. Lowe is also the better player generally right now
@Gary D: He definitely isn’t the better all round player generally, no way
@Eoin H: Well he has been a starter for the last 7.5 years. And he was a starter right up until his injury. Osborne is far far better utilised at 12 or 15. Let’s just play lads in their correct positions.
@Eoin H: I partially agree with you. Osbourne has an ability to hold on to passes that others would knock on and is too good to leave out of the team. Lowe is a try scoring machine as well though so not sure I’d leave him out either. I’d probably play Osbourne at 12 and leave Henshaw on the bench for impact