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Champions Cup lands new broadcaster in UK and Ireland in major shake-up

By Josh Raisey
Antoine Dupont, the Toulouse captain, raises the Champions Cup after their victory during the Investec Champions Cup Final match between Leinster Rugby and Stade Toulousain at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The EPCR have confirmed that Premier Sports will be the lead broadcaster for the Investec Champions Cup until 2027 in the UK and Ireland, as reported by RugbyPass.

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Premier Sports will cover all 63 matches of European rugby’s showcase tournament for the next three seasons.

On top of its coverage of the Champions Cup, it will also show two matches per pool stage round of the Challenge Cup, two round of 16 matches and every match from the quarter-finals onwards.

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BOKS OFFICE: A World Cup Final or B&I Lions Series?

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BOKS OFFICE: A World Cup Final or B&I Lions Series?

Premier Sports are already the UK’s broadcaster for the Top 14 and the United Rugby Championship, and have also announced plans to launch a 24/7 rugby channel.

The new European season gets underway on the weekend of December 6 on its new home.

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Bath
15:00
6 Dec 24
La Rochelle
All Stats and Data

“Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to TOP14 and URC competitions,” CEO of EPCR Jacques Raynaud said.

“We are delighted to join them on this journey and tremendously excited to help them reach new heights by bringing the very best of elite club rugby to UK and Ireland audiences.

“In addition to the match day coverage, the creation of a 24/7 rugby channel represents a step-change in Premier Sports rugby coverage. The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be at the heart of this new offering, led by key rugby personalities including Stephen Ferris, John Barclay, Tom Shanklin and Ryan Wilson.

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“Furthermore, we have been able to work with Premier Sports to ensure new fixture times for English clubs, avoiding clashes with Premier League football to maximise viewing.

“We have worked with the team at Premier Sports for many years both on the EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland and as our broadcaster in Asia. We have been very impressed with their commitment and ability to raise the profile and production of URC coverage to exciting new levels and we look forward to working with them as EPCR continues the ambitious growth of its competitions.”

Founding managing director of Premier Sports Mickey O’Rourke added: “We are delighted and proud to bring the world’s greatest international club rugby competition to our customers in the UK and Ireland.

“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.

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“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 – and we will be driving significant investment into raising the profile of EPCR’s competitions to new and existing audiences.

“Every week will be rugby week at Premier Sports, with a stellar talent line-up of top pundits, presenters and commentators leading our coverage. We will look to mirror the pride, passion and excitement that EPCR, players, clubs and supporters invest in European rugby every season and bring fans closer to the action and the game’s star players.

“We are equally excited to welcome new rugby customers to Premier Sports and will be offering affordable annual and monthly subscription offers to support all rugby fans.”

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Comments

1 Comment
K
KiwiSteve 35 days ago

This tournement used to be something to look forward to. Then the South Africans were added. Teams then sent B or C teams for one sided games. It just doesn't have the allure. Games are boring. I used to watch every Euro game. Didn't bother last year. It is no longer champions of Europe. I already sub Skysports and TNT, Discovery plus, Netflix and Paramount plus. Hardly anyone is going to spend £11 for a pure Rugby TV sub. A massive own goal or in this case knock on try.

T
Timmyboy 35 days ago

another subscription , that’s a nope .

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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