Channel 4 has won the rights to broadcast live free-to-air coverage of Wales’ home Rugby World Cup warm-up matches against England and Ireland this August.
The three nations will face each other at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as part of their preparation for the World Cup, which begins in Japan on 20 September.
The reigning Six Nations champions play England on Saturday, 17 August, a clash which will also be simulcast on Sky Sports, before they face Ireland on Saturday, 31 August.
In addition, Channel 4 will also broadcast Ireland’s home match up against Wales live from Dublin on 7 September, as well as live coverage of Ireland against Italy on 10 August, as part of the broadcaster’s existing deal with the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Channel 4 showed their first Welsh rugby union international June 2018, when Wales beat South Africa in Washington DC, followed by a successful two-Test tour of Argentina.
This latest rights deal strengthens Channel 4’s portfolio of live free-to-air rugby union, which also includes live matches from the Heineken Champions Cup and Ireland’s autumn internationals through to 2021.
Commenting on the deal, Joe Blake-Turner, Channel 4’s commissioning editor for sport, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with the Grand Slam winners once again and look forward to Warren Gatland’s men laying down markers against Ireland and England. It promises to be an intriguing summer of rugby for fans of all nations ahead of the Rugby World Cup.”
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips added:
“We will be delighted to welcome Channel 4 to Cardiff and join their portfolio of rugby programming this summer. Our experience working with them during last year’s summer tour in Argentina and for the game against South Africa in USA was hugely positive and, of course, their coverage of Heineken Champions Cup rugby is highly regarded.
“These two matches will not only be the last opportunity to see Wales at Principality Stadium before we leave for the World Cup in Japan, but they are also a final send off for our head coach Warren Gatland.”
“We are expecting two incredible occasions, two huge crowds and a fitting spectacle for all those watching on TV screens around the world as we celebrate the most successful coach in the history of our game and send Wales to the World Cup in no doubt that an entire nation is behind them.”
The only Wales World Cup warm-up match that will not be broadcast on Channel 4 will be their opening fixture against England at Twickenham, which will be shown live on Sky Sports on Sunday, 11 August.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off on 20 September in Japan, with every match to be broadcast live across ITV and ITV4 in the autumn.
SATURDAY 17th AUGUST
Wales v England
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14:15 |
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SATURDAY 31st AUGUST
Wales v Ireland
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14:30 |
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SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER
Ireland v Wales
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14:00 |
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How can i watch this game in Queensland . I do not hve fox tv?
john ex rugby player