Advertisement
Leinster and Munster will be involved in the new competition. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
TV Rights

Premier Sports to show every United Rugby Championship game live

The subscription channel has secured the rights for all 151 matches in a four-year deal.

PREMIER SPORTS HAS announced that it will show every match from the United Rugby Championship live for the next four years. 

The existing Pro14 teams and four Super Rugby sides – Sharks, Stormers, Lions and Bulls — will compete in the new-look competition from September. 

Earlier this week, RTÉ and TG4 revealed a four-year deal that will see them provide free-to-air coverage for 52 of the 60 matches involving Irish provinces, plus the knockout stages, between them. 

TG4 will also have the rights to an additional 16 non-Irish fixtures.

Subscription channel Premier Sports, which is available in Ireland via Sky and Now TV’s Sports Extra pack, has now confirmed that it will show all 151 URC games live this season, with analysis from the likes of Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble, John Barclay, Jim Hamilton, Shane Williams and Tom Shanklin.

URC Media image attachment Premier Sports Premier Sports

“We are absolutely delighted to have secured another four years of exclusive rights with the United Rugby Championship,” said CEO of Premier Sports Richard Sweeney.

“Premier Sports will be the only place to watch all 21 game weekends per season from opening weekend to the Grand Final with every single game live on our channels. We’ll deliver all the tournament action across all five rugby nations plus host more than 100 live and exclusive games through the season.

“The United Rugby Championship is going to be a fascinating, fresh and exciting new tournament for rugby supporters everywhere to engage with. The stakes will be high, there’s more jeopardy, regional pride to play for, more intense games and a diverse mix of rugby styles and cultures and world-class rugby players on show every week which is going to be great for our TV presentation teams to showcase.

“Aligned with the new opportunities that URC brings, we will be investing significantly, with more extensive panel insight from studio, more cameras and broadening our mix of commentators from relevant territories for live games.

We will also be launching a new and improved Premier Player in time for the new season. Premier Sports will once again showcase the most competitive and the compelling games and provide the most comprehensive live coverage of a tournament where every game counts.

“We are really proud of the fact we have the best TV frontline team in the business across Wales, Scotland and Ireland leading our commentary and analysis. We have a talent team that passionately and colourfully frame our live rugby action with real insight, expertise and in-depth rugby knowledge both pitchside and in the studio.”

Subscribe to The42 Rugby Weekly podcast here:

Your Voice
Readers Comments
9
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel