With FOURTEEN live games, two highlight shows and three preview shows already under its belt and some thrilling contests to start the Guinness PRO14 season, Premier Sports will be delivering another weekend of extensive rugby action with all 7 PRO14 games on Premier Sports 1 & 2 and FreeSports.
For Premier Sports – the new home of all live Guinness PRO14 rugby action in the UK – weekend three provides another exciting series of games to broadcast with thousands of rugby supporters tuning in for lively analysis, commentary and inside track from its 19-strong team.
In Wales, it’s opening night with Premier Sports for Shane Williams, one of Welsh sport’s all-time greats and biggest names in world rugby. Shanewill be at Parc y Scarlets as the Scarlets take on an in-form Benetton Rugby team who have secured two victories against Welsh opposition this season. However, make no mistake West Wales will be bouncing with confidence and spirits are running high after a big win over Championship winners Leinster last weekend.
In Scotland, also on the Premier Sports team sheet for the first time is 109 capped and record points scoring Scottish international Chris Paterson, who gets his first outing back at his home club in Edinburgh, as well as a first night for accomplished and popular TV presenter Emma Dodds. Chris and Emma will be staring alongside Dougie Vipond, Rory Lawson and Jim Hamilton who are all ready to bring viewers all the chat and insight around a thrilling opening night on home turf for Edinburgh Rugby who face Connacht in Round 3.
The top-billing Premier Sports TV line-up for this weekend in Wales and Scotland is:
- Friday Sept 14thEdinburgh v Connacht: Dougie Vipond, Emma Dodds, Rory Lawson, Jim Hamilton, Chris Paterson
- Sat 15th Sept Scarlets v Benetton: Ross Harries, Lauren Jenkins, Eddie Butler, Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin
All SEVEN games are covered this weekend across Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and South Africa, with plenty of eye-catching match-ups for supporters to enjoy and every game shown across Premier Sports 1 & 2 Channels and FreeSports: That’s more than 15 hoursof live rugby match coverage in just one weekend.
- Friday Sept 14thEdinburgh v Connacht, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 1
- Friday Sept 14thMunster v Ospreys, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 2
- Sat Sept 15thScarlets v Benetton, kick off 5.15pm Live on Premier Sports 1
- Sat Sept 15thLeinster v Dragons, kick off 5.15pm Live on Premier Sports 2
- Sat Sept 15thCheetahs v Warriors, kick off 6.30pm Live on FreeSports
- Sat Sept 15thZebre v Cardiff Blues, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 1
- Sun Sept 16thSouthern Kings v Ulster, kick off 1.15pm Live on Premier Sports 1
Shane Williams, who completed the gruelling 14-hour Iron Man contest in Wales last weekend, said he was raring to go and excited about working with Premier Sports: “It’s been a really positive start for Premier Sports, everyone I’ve spoken to has said how much they are enjoying the coverage and how much of it there is – I’ve only heard positive things. I’ve watched the highlight shows as well as the Welsh games and been really impressed, they’ve been superb. In fact I’ve just felt I’ve been missing out not having been involved yet – so really looking forward to the weekend and joining up with the team.
“From a rugby point of view, it’s been a great start to the PRO14, and certainly we’ve had a sense that the competition is fiercer this season with some very close games in the opening rounds – all of which is great for the Championship and its future. Saturday night’s encounter at Parc y Scarlets will be a fiery one, Benetton are playing with ambition, they can throw the ball around and defences have struggled to control them and they can take confidence from two big wins against Welsh teams to open their season. The Scarlets showed their class last weekend to secure a big win against Leinster and at home a confident Scarlets side is going to be very tough to beat.”
Chief Executive of Premier Sports Richard Sweeney said: “It’s been a very busy opening three weeks for our teams and overall we’re very pleased with how our coverage is being received. There will always be a few challenges in the early weeks and you learn from them, particularly with the range and scope of the coverage we’re delivering. What’s great is that the feedback from the clubs, PRO14 and supporters has been really positive – especially around the opportunity to access so much rugby action, all in one place.
“We’re happy that supporters are enjoying it and feel there’s real value, we want them to relax at a weekend knowing that we’ve got PRO14 rugby covered with every single game live and a feast of rugby to catch all week long with our highlights and preview shows.”
Highlights of all this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 will be broadcast Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm on Premier Sports 1 with these repeated on FreeSports and Monday Night Rugby coverage starting at 7.30pm. As with every week, Premier Sports will air a special Guinness PRO14 preview show on Wednesday night at 9pmahead of the second round of fixtures. This ‘PRO14 Hour’ will be repeated on FreeSports at 10pm.
Premier Sports has signed-up a 19 strong core team for its PRO14 coverage this season: Northern Ireland: AndrewTrimble, MarkRobsonandGrahamLittle – Wales: ShaneWilliams, SamWarburton, MartynWilliams, EddieButler, RossHarries, SeanHolley, WynGruffyddandLaurenJenkins. Scotland: JimHamilton, RoryLawson, DoddieWeir, ChrisPaterson, AlKellock, Dougie Vipond, Emma Dodds & Rory Hamilton.
Premier Sports, is the home of the Guinness PRO14 in the UK and will be showing all 152 games from the Guinness PRO14 this season. Rugby fans can subscribe on Sky or the Premier Sports Player for £9.99 per month with the first month free. Visit www.premierports.com to sign up to see all the live action. Customers on other TV services should contact their operator.