BT & Sky confirm deciding live European pool games

by SOTB | @SportOnTheBox | December 19, 2014 1:00 pm

The division of BT Sport and Sky Sports’ live TV matches for the decisive fifth and sixth round of fixtures in the European Rugby Champions Cup have been announced.

With the five pool winners and three best runners-up set to book their places in the Champions Cup quarter-finals under the new-look tournament format, the January matches are certain to generate even more than the customary high tension and drama associated with Europe’s elite club rugby tournament.

Of the many matches that stand out over both weekends, the round five clash of the unbeaten Pool 4 leaders Toulouse and Bath at Stade Ernest Wallon takes some beating and BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match live on Sunday, January 18.

In addition, the Saracens v Munster and Harlequins v Wasps games, also in round 5 and live on BT Sport, on Saturday, January 17, will guarantee packed houses at both Allianz Park and the Twickenham Stoop respectively.

With four coveted home quarter-final berths up for grabs and with the addition of a third runner-up spot, the exact make-up and ranking of the eight quarter-finalists won’t be decided until the final two pool games of the campaign on the Sunday of Round 6.

The round six meeting of Northampton Saints and Racing Metro at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday, January 24, could well be the Pool 5 decider, and reigning champions, RC Toulon, will be looking to secure their qualification from Pool 3 with a difficult away game at the Scarlets on the same day.

With the matches in the same pools kicking off at the same time in round six, the concluding pool stage weekend will sign off with a potentially explosive finish to Pool 1 when Munster take on Sale Sharks at Thomond Park and when ASM Clermont Auvergne go head-to-head with old foes Saracens at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday, January 25.

Replacing the Heineken Cup as European rugby union’s premier club competition this season, the inaugural Champions Cup pits the cream of continent against one another as 20 sides aim to secure their place in rugby history.

After many months of protracted negotiations, the newly re-branded competition was given the go-ahead earlier this year with a few significant tweaks made to its format.

The number of teams involved has been reduced from 24 to 20, with 19 qualifying automatically based on their position in their respective leagues, while the final spot goes to the winner of a play-off competition.

Subscribers to BT Sport and Sky Sports will be able to watch every match from the new-look competition live, with both broadcasters screening 35 matches each as they start the first year of a ground-breaking four-year TV deal with the newly formed European Professional Club Rugby.

Welsh language channel S4C is the only place to watch free-to-air highlights from the new European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup this season, following a last-minute deal ahead of the start of the new competitions.

For more information on the European Rugby Champions Cup, visit epcrugby.com.

ROUND 5

FRIDAY 16th JANUARY

Leicester Tigers v Scarlets

European Champions Cup – Pool 3

19:45

SATURDAY 17th JANUARY

Saracens v Munster

European Champions Cup – Pool 1