With just one month to go until opening night of a new season of international club rugby, lead UK and Ireland broadcaster for the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, Premier Sports, has announced its TV team for the competitions.
It’s rugby on another level for Premier Sports with 16 of rugby’s most popular and experienced former international stars bringing the latest analysis, insight and colour to the pinnacle competition in club rugby, which will celebrate a historic 30th season in 2024/25.
With a total of 935 international caps between them, it’s a who’s who of UK and Ireland rugby greats lining up for this season’s Premier Sports coverage of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to showcase all 63 Champions Cup games live and exclusively on Premier Sports.
Premier Sports’ talent line-up will include a best in the business team of Lawrence Dallaligo, Simon Zebo, Chris Robshaw, Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, Stephen Ferris, Topsy Ojo, Andrew Trimble, Rob Kearney, Andy Goode, Ian Madigan, John Barclay, Matt Banahan, Tom Shanklin, Chris Paterson, Ryan Wilson, and Shane Williams.
The action all kicks off live on Premier Sports on Friday 6 December at 8pm with opening night at two of the best-known hotspots for European rugby traditions and atmosphere - as Bath Rugby take on La Rochelle at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup and Gloucester host Edinburgh at Kingsholm Stadium in the EPCR Challenge Cup. To join in visit www.premiersport.tv.
Premier Sports is the new lead broadcaster of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland for the next three years of the competitions until 2026/7 and will cover all 63 Investec Champions Cup matches, as well as two EPCR Challenge Cup pool matches per round, two EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, and all matches in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and Final.
Premier Sports has become a major operator in the rugby landscape, as the lead UK broadcaster for TOP14 and BKT United Rugby Championship (URC). In its six-year partnership with URC to date, Premier Sports has hosted more than 900 live rugby fixtures showing every game live including the Grand Final.
Premier Sports comprehensive rugby coverage runs alongside other sports and leagues including rights to LALIGA, Scottish Football, Copa Italia, DFB Pokal, NHL and NASCAR.
“This is international club rugby’s most high profile competition featuring some of the world’s biggest clubs and our aim is to mirror the pride, passion, tradition and excitement that supporters show every season by bringing fans closer to the action and the game’s star players.
“Our exciting new TV partnership with EPCR and the marquee offering of all 63 Investec Champions Cup games live in the UK and Ireland, complements our existing URC and TOP14 coverage and shows our innovation, ambition and growth as a broadcaster.
“We will now provide the most comprehensive rugby club coverage available across the UK and Ireland with 80 top European rugby fixtures, 151 URC games across five rugby nations and 110 TOP14 games live - making Premier Sports the destination for any rugby fan.”
Jacques Raynaud, CEO of EPCR, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Premier Sports to deliver fans in the UK and Ireland top-tier match coverage and have no doubt the incredible line up of knowledgeable and authentic talent will enhance the programming even further for both long-term fans of the sport, as well as appealing to a new audience."
Round 1: opening Investec Champions Cup weekend fixtures live on Premier Sports:
Friday 6 December Bath Rugby v La Rochelle (KO 8pm)
Saturday 7 December ASM Clermont Auvergne v Benetton Rugby (KO 2pm)
Saturday 7 December Hollywoodbets Sharks v Exeter Chiefs (KO 3pm)
Saturday 7 December Northampton Saints v Castres (KO 3.15pm)
Saturday 7 December DHL Stormers v Toulon (KO 5.15pm)
Saturday 7 December Munster Rugby v Stade Francais (KO 5.30pm)
Saturday 7 December Saracens v Vodacom Bulls (KO 5.30pm)
Saturday 7 December Glasgow Warriors v Sale Sharks (KO 8pm)
Saturday 7 December Racing 92 v Harlequins (KO 9pm)
Sunday 8 December Toulouse v Ulster Rugby (KO 4.15pm)
Sunday 8 December Bristol Bears v Leinster Rugby (KO 5.30pm)
EPCR Challenge Cup R1
Friday 6 December Gloucester Rugby v Edinburgh (KO 8pm)
Sunday 8 December Ospreys v Lions KO (3.15pm)
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