Thursday 30 October 2014 07:27, UK
Sky Sports and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) have announced that they have extended their partnership with a five-year broadcast deal which will see Sky continue to cover the sport in England at all levels.
The agreement strengthens one of the longest-running broadcast partnerships in sport, taking it into a third decade, and Sky Sports will become a top level RFU partner with a range of partnership rights for the first time.
The deal begins in July 2015, running until the end of the 2019/20 campaign, and is the 25th major rights agreement Sky Sports has secured in 2014.
The deal includes:
Exclusively live coverage of England's autumn QBE Internationals from Twickenham, QBE Internationals before the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and 2019, plus the annual England spring fixture.
At least two live England Women's matches a season, as well as additional England U20, U18 and England Saxons fixtures.
A minimum of 11 live Greene King IPA Championship matches.
An in-match clips package, which will enable near live match updates to be delivered across RFU & Sky Sports' websites and social media channels.
Sophie Goldschmidt, the RFU’s chief commercial and marketing officer, said: “We have a long term, trusted relationship with Sky Sports and are delighted that it is continuing.
“They have an acknowledge relationship as a premier worldwide broadcaster, who always look to take sport to new levels both editorially and in terms of innovation.
“We are looking forward to not only showcasing our England teams in the best possible way, but also to exploring opportunities to support the grassroots, so the whole game benefits further.”
Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis added: “This new deal builds on our already successful partnership with the RFU.
It offers our viewers even more live England rugby from the men’s, women’s and age grade game, and includes additional rights to enable us to support the game from the grassroots up to the elite level.”
The Sky Sports rugby union schedule features over 360 live matches this season including Autumn Internationals from England, Ireland, France and Italy, European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action, plus full coverage of the Top 14, Guinness PRO12, IRB Sevens World Series, and women’s rugby.
