Sky Sports will show more rugby league than ever before in the 2015 season

Sky Sports will show more rugby league than ever before next year, with around 100 live matches from the First Utility Super League, Kingstone Press Championship, Challenge Cup and World Club Series.

Sky Sports will show every Super League team at least twice before the Easter weekend in the 8th round. The new Super League season kicks off live on Sky Sports on Thursday 5 February with 2014 Grand Finalists Wigan Warriors in action away to Widnes Vikings, before Champions St Helens host Catalans Dragons on Friday 6 February.

Super League will this season be joined on Sky Sports by even more live Challenge Cup coverage, selected Championship matches including live coverage of all six games in the Blackpool Summer Bash, and the newly expanded World Club Series on 20, 21 and 22 February.

The 2015 season will be the first of a new seven-year extended deal for Sky Sports that takes the partnership with the RFL into its 25th year. This coincides with the introduction of a brand new unified points system and structure, allowing promotion and relegation across the Super League, Championship and League 1 competitions. After the regular season finishes at round 23, the two leagues of 12 will become three groups of eight clubs: the Super 8s.

It’s the start of a brilliant new era for rugby league. We’re delighted to continue to bring unrivalled coverage of the game with a milestone 100 live matches a season across the Super League and Championship.

The first group (Super League) will play to reach the Grand Final, the second group (Qualifiers) will play for four places in Super League in 2016 and the third group (Championship Shield) will contest their own mini-league. The Qualifiers’ thrilling battle for just four places in Super League in 2016 will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Neville Smith, executive producer of rugby league, said: “It’s the start of a brilliant new era for rugby league. We’re delighted to continue to bring unrivalled coverage of the game with a milestone 100 live matches a season across the Super League and Championship.

"The leagues’ new structure will bring added excitement at the sharp end of the season – including the decisive battle for that final 2016 Super League spot between the fourth and fifth place teams that promises to be unmissable. And only Sky Sports will tell the whole story of the season live, alongside Challenge Cup matches, the World Club Series and a raft of support programming.”

The regular season schedule of Thursday Thrillers and Friday Night Super League games will be complimented by Catalans Dragons home matches on Saturdays and weekly rugby league  programming including Boots n All and Super League Full Time.

Season highlights include Magic Weekend, when all 12 Super League teams are shown live on Sky Sports in two days. Magic Weekend 2015 will take place for the first time at Newcastle’s St James’ Park on 30 - 31 May.

Sky Sports News HQ will bring news, interviews and features from across the leagues on channel 401 and across its digital portfolio that includes Sky Sports apps and skysports.com.