Welsh language channel S4C will screen free-to-air highlights from the new European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup.
S4C will be the first terrestrial free-to-air broadcaster in the UK to televise extended highlights of the new European tournaments, which have been provided through a licence agreement with tournament organiser EPCR and broadcast partners BT Sport and Sky Sports.
Coverage starts on Sunday, October 19at 9.50pm in the new-look Rygbi: Cwpan Pencampwyr Ewrop programme, with second highlights show to follow on Monday, October 21 at 10.00pm, with further programmes scheduled for the second round of matches on the following weekend.
The deal ensures S4C will continue to cover the pick of the action from the top European rugby competitions, with S4C having previously held the rights to screen weekly highlights of the former Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup.
Taking over from the Heineken Cup as the continent’s premier rugby tournament, the European Champions Cup now involves 20 teams, with seven from the Aviva Premiership, six from the French Top 14 and seven from the Guinness Pro12.
The second-tier European Challenge Cup competition also features 20 teams in five pools, including two Welsh regions in Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons.
All of S4C’s European rugby programmes, which will be jointly produced by SMS and Sunset & Vine Cymru. will be available to watch online and on-demand via s4c.co.uk for 30 days after transmission.
S4C has unveiled its line-up for the show which will feature anchor presenter Gareth Roberts and former Wales captain Gwyn Jones.
The new S4C highlights show will feature action from the key matches in both competitions, mainly focussing on the Welsh regions, plus the pick of the other top European ties, from the opening round to next May’s final at Twickenham.
On the opening weekend, Ospreys entertain Treviso in their first Pool 5 Match on Sunday, October 19, while the Scarlets travel to current European champions Toulon in Pool 3.
In the European Challenge Cup, Cardiff Blues face Grenoble in Pool 1 on Saturday, October 18, and the Dragons are in Paris to tackle Stade Francais.
S4C’s highlights coverage will continue a week later with the second round of action, featuring Ospreys heading to Northampton and the Scarlets welcoming Ulster.
Rovigo against Blues and Dragons’ match versus Newcastle feature as part of the Challenge Cup action for round two, not forgetting that the English Premiership team with a Welsh twist, London Welsh, are also in the tournament.
Further group matches in both competitions will be played in December of this year and January 2015, with the knockout stages scheduled for the spring.
Paul McNaughton, EPCR Board and Executive Committee member, said: “It’s very good news that S4C are continuing their support of European club rugby by securing highlights rights for the new EPCR tournaments.
“These highlights programmes will help to complement the already extensive live and feature programming that fans can look forward on BT Sport and Sky Sports.
“The confirmed broadcast platform will ensure that these tournaments will get the exposure that they deserve and that fans can follow their clubs in Europe.”
Llion Iwan, S4C content editor for sport and factual programmes said, “We are delighted that viewers in Wales and the UK can enjoy free-to-air terrestrial highlights of our two premier European rugby competitions.
“It is a measure of our standing as a sports broadcaster that we can secure such rights in a hugely competitive market. It adds greatly to our impressive broadcasting portfolio of rugby at all levels.
“We salute the competition organisers for having the vision to see that there is room for coverage on a free-to-air platform in the Welsh language.”
S4C’s extensive rugby output also includes live coverage of Wales’ international matches, Guinness Pro12, Swalec Welsh premier and championship matches, college rugby among other rugby tournaments.
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