It’s rugby on another level for Premier Sports in Europe

It’s rugby on another level for Premier Sports with 16 of rugby’s most popular and experienced former international stars bringing the latest analysis, insight and colour to the pinnacle competition in club rugby, which will celebrate a historic 30th season in 2024/25.

With a total of 935 international caps between them, it’s a who’s who of UK and Ireland rugby greats lining up for this season’s Premier Sports coverage of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to showcase all 63 Champions Cup games live and exclusively on Premier Sports.

Premier Sports’ talent line-up will include a best in the business team of Lawrence Dallaligo, Simon Zebo, Chris Robshaw, Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, Stephen Ferris, Topsy Ojo, Andrew Trimble, Rob Kearney, Andy Goode, Ian Madigan, John Barclay, Matt Banahan, Tom Shanklin, Chris Paterson, Ryan Wilson, and Shane Williams. 

• A 32-strong team of rugby’s leading pundits, presenters & commentators (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy) Plus commentators will be Martin Gillingham, Nick Heath, Miles Harrison, Ryle Nugent, Connor Morris, Jamie Lyall, Simon Ward, Rory Hamilton and Dave Rogers, with presenters Martin Bayfield, Ross Harries, Graham Little, and reporters Claire Thomas, Jenny Drummond, Paul Marshall and Johnnie Beatie.

The action all kicks off live on Premier Sports on Friday 6 December at 8pm with opening night at two of the best-known hotspots for European rugby traditions and atmosphere – as Bath Rugby take on La Rochelle at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup and Gloucester host Edinburgh at Kingsholm Stadium in the EPCR Challenge Cup. To join in visit www.premiersport.tv.

Premier Sports is the new lead broadcaster of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland for the next three years of the competitions until 2026/7 and will cover all 63 Investec Champions Cup matches, as well as two EPCR Challenge Cup pool matches per round, two EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16, and all matches in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and Final. 

Chris Robshaw will offer his thoughts and opinions (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)In addition, Premier Sports will launch a 24/7 rugby channel in early 2025 at the very heart of which will sit the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup which will be available on Premier Sports streaming service as well as Virgin, Amazon and Sky.

Premier Sports has become a major operator in the rugby landscape, as the lead UK broadcaster for TOP14 and BKT United Rugby Championship (URC). In its six-year partnership with URC to date, Premier Sports has hosted more than 900 live rugby fixtures showing every game live including the Grand Final.

Premier Sports comprehensive rugby coverage runs alongside other sports and leagues including rights to LALIGA, Scottish Football, Copa Italia, DFB Pokal, NHL and NASCAR.

Former England skipper Lawrence Dallaglio will join fellow internationals (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy) Mickey O’Rourke, founding Managing Director of Premier Sports said: “We are really delighted and excited to welcome such well-known and respected English rugby greats into the Premier Sport team bringing the very best analysis, insight and energy into our live coverage of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

“This is international club rugby’s most high profile competition featuring some of the world’s biggest clubs and our aim is to mirror the pride, passion, tradition and excitement that supporters show every season by bringing fans closer to the action and the game’s star players.

“Our exciting new TV partnership with EPCR and the marquee offering of all 63 Investec Champions Cup games live in the UK and Ireland, complements our existing URC and TOP14 coverage and shows our innovation, ambition and growth as a broadcaster.

“We will now provide the most comprehensive rugby club coverage available across the UK and Ireland with 80 top European rugby fixtures, 151 URC games across five rugby nations and 110 TOP14 games live – making Premier Sports the destination for any rugby fan.”

Jacques Raynaud, CEO of EPCR, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Premier Sports to deliver fans in the UK and Ireland top-tier match coverage and have no doubt the incredible line up of knowledgeable and authentic talent will enhance the programming even further for both long-term fans of the sport, as well as appealing to a new audience.”

Round 1: opening Investec Champions Cup weekend fixtures live on Premier Sports:

Friday 6 December                 Bath Rugby v La Rochelle (KO 8pm)

Saturday 7 December            ASM Clermont Auvergne v Benetton Rugby (KO 2pm)

Saturday 7 December            Hollywoodbets Sharks v Exeter Chiefs (KO 3pm)

Saturday 7 December            Northampton Saints v Castres (KO 3.15pm)

Saturday 7 December            DHL Stormers v Toulon (KO 5.15pm)

Saturday 7 December            Munster Rugby v Stade Francais (KO 5.30pm)

Saturday 7 December            Saracens v Vodacom Bulls (KO 5.30pm)

Saturday 7 December            Glasgow Warriors v Sale Sharks (KO 8pm)

Saturday 7 December            Racing 92 v Harlequins (KO 9pm)

Sunday 8 December              Toulouse v Ulster Rugby (KO 4.15pm)

Sunday 8 December              Bristol Bears v Leinster Rugby (KO 5.30pm)

EPCR Challenge Cup R1

Friday 6 December                 Gloucester Rugby v Edinburgh (KO 8pm)

Sunday 8 December               Ospreys v Lions KO (3.15pm)