The Rugby Broadcast Report Issue 17: TV Guide and Rugby Media Rights Update

Never miss a game

Oct 23, 2025

Welcome to the Rugby Broadcast Report, a weekly newsletter covering the weekend’s televised rugby action and the latest developments in rugby media rights.

On Friday Round 5 of the URC kicks-off with Glasgow hosting the Bulls (KO: 7:45pm), while it is 1st v 2nd in the PREM as Northampton take on Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens (KO: 7:45pm).

Four fixtures from Round 8 of the Top 14 are coming up on Premier Sports across the weekend, with Toulouse v Toulon the standout fixture on Sunday night (KO: 8:05pm).

There are plenty of other fixtures to look forward to, including the NPC final (KO: 4:05am on Saturday) and PWR returns – all fixtures will be broadcast this season across TNT Sports, BBC iPlayer and YouTube.

There’s also action from the Champ, Pro D2, Super Cup, Scottish Women’s Premiership, AIL, Super Rugby Cymru, the Rugby Europe Conference & Trophy.

Irish and UK kick-off and broadcast details for all televised games are listed below.*

Fixture of the weekend (admittedly biased)

Top 14: Toulouse v Toulon
Kick-off: Sunday, 8:05pm
TV: Premier Sports Rugby & Online / Unavailable live in ROI
Verdict: Toulouse by 8

Zebo’s interviews

Did you enjoy Simon Zebo's energetic interview style after Munster’s victory over Leinster? While he’s understandably biased, it’s clear that the Munster players were comfortable speaking with the former Ireland and Munster winger. At the beginning of the clip below, Shane Daly revealed that Munster wanted to make a statement to Irish rugby – perhaps revealing that Munster used the Irish team announcement as motivation. We often complain that players never say anything out of the ordinary and stick the script during interviews and for this reason alone, Zebo’s interview style is welcome.

“We made a huge statement I think to the league and I think to Irish rugby and that’s what we set out to do”

Quote of the week

It’s exactly what you’d want to do when it’s windy conditions: having the ball turning over slowly so it beats the wind

This week’s quote comes from former Leinster and Ireland out-half Ian Madigan, who was on commentary duty for the Leinster v Munster derby last weekend.

At first glance, it might sound like a simple observation – but it’s the kind of insight that only an experienced kicker can offer. After Jack Crowley successfully converted a penalty early in the second half despite the challenging conditions, Madigan broke down for viewers how Crowley’s slow ball rotation helped it stay true through the wind.

It’s a small detail, but one that perfectly illustrates how ex-players can elevate a broadcast by explaining what’s unfolding. Madigan’s comment gave viewers a glimpse into one of the skills that kickers possess and how they adapt to difficult conditions.

It reminded me of David Flatman’s excellent scrum analysis from last season (click the image to watch the clip). Like Madigan, Flatman draws on his own playing experience to reveal what’s really happening beneath the surface – things that even regular fans might not understand.

The broadcast number

57 – the percentage by which average free-to-air PREM Rugby audiences on Channel 5 and ITV fell between the 2018/19 and 2024/25 seasons, “most notably in the last season as ITV shifted coverage from its main channel to ITV4.” This is one of the findings of a recent independent report by Oliver & Ohlbaum, entitled Reinventing Rugby. I’ll be writing about this in the coming days so stay tuned.

Rugby media rights news

A 90-minute documentary, Lions Uncut: Australia 2025, will be released exclusively on TNT Sports and Discovery+. The documentary covers the 2025 Lions Tour and will be released later this month ahead of TNT Sports’ coverage of the Quilter Nations Series.
Italy’s premier rugby championship, Serie A Elite, is now available to watch globally on TheRugbyChannel.it, with every game available live and on-demand.
In March 2025 Premier Sports CEO Richard Sweeney revealed that the broadcaster was exploring adding podcasts to its lineup of content but until recently, such content was not available on its channels. However, the Rugby Pod has quietly been added to Premier Sports’ linear channels in both Ireland and the UK lately and it will be interesting to see whether more podcasts are added over the course of the season.

Thursday 23 October

7:30pm – Llandovery v Bridgend (Super Rugby Cymru) – S4C Clic / YouTube
8:00pm – Valence Romans v Agen (Pro D2) – YouTube

Friday 24 October

12:10pm – Japan XV v Hong Kong (Friendly) – RugbyPass TV
6:00pm – Iberians v Romanian Wolves (Super Cup) – Rugby Europe TV / RugbyPass TV
7:30pm – Harlequins Women v Loughborough Lightning (PWR) – BBC iPlayer
7:35pm – Stirling County v Watsonians (Scottish Women’s Premiership) – BBC ALBA / BBC iPlayer / YouTube
7:45pm – Nottingham v Richmond (Champ) – Clubber TV
7:45pm – Northampton v Saracens (PREM) – TNT Sports 1 / Discovery+ / NOW
7:45pm – Glasgow v Bulls (URC) – Premier Sports 1 & Online / URC TV / NOW

Saturday 25 October

4:05am – Canterbury v Otago (NPC Final) – Sky Sports+ / NOW
12:00pm – Serbia v Slovakia (Rugby Europe Conference) – Rugby Europe TV
12:00pm – Lithuania v Poland (Rugby Europe Trophy) – Rugby Europe TV
12:45pm – Lions v Ulster (URC) – Premier Sports 2 & Online / URC TV / NOW
1:00pm – Finland v Latvia (Rugby Europe Conference) – Rugby Europe TV
1:00pm – Lusitanos v Delta (Super Cup) – Rugby Europe TV / RugbyPass TV
1:00pm – Sweden v Croatia (Rugby Europe Trophy) – Rugby Europe TV
1:30pm – Lyon v La Rochelle (Top 14) – Premier Sports 1 & Online UK Only / Unavailable live in ROI
2:30pm – Old Belvedere v Clontarf (AIL) – YouTube
2:30pm – Doncaster v Worcester Warriors (Champ) – Clubber TV
2:30pm – Hartpury v Chinnor (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Ampthill v Bedford Blues (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Caldy v Cambridge (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Coventry v Ealing (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – London Scottish v Cornish Pirates (Champ) – Clubber TV
3:00pm – Ealing Women v Exeter Chiefs Women (PWR) – YouTube
3:00pm – Sharks v Scarlets (URC) – TG4 & Player / Premier Sports 2 & Online / URC TV / NOW
3:00pm – Exeter v Gloucester (PREM) – TNT Sports TBC / Discovery+ / NOW TBC
3:00pm – Harlequins v Newcastle (PREM) – TNT Sports Extra / Discovery+ / Unavailable on NOW in ROI
3:05pm – Bath v Bristol (PREM) – TNT Sports 1 / Discovery+ / NOW
3:35pm – Racing 92 v Pau (Top 14) – Premier Sports Online / Unavailable live in ROI
5:00pm – Old Belvedere v Wicklow (Women’s AIL) – YouTube / Irish Rugby+
5:30pm – Benetton v Stormers (URC) – Premier Sports Online Only / URC TV
5:30pm – Leinster v Zebre (URC) – Premier Sports 1 & Online / NOW
5:30pm – Dragons v Ospreys (URC) – Premier Sports 2 & Online / URC TV / NOW
5:30pm – Leicester v Sale (PREM) – TNT Sports 3 / Discovery+ / NOW
7:00pm – Bohemia Rugby v Brussels Devils (Super Cup) – Rugby Europe TV / RugbyPass TV
7:00pm – Sale Sharks Women v Leicester Tigers Women (PWR) – YouTube
7:45pm – Munster v Connacht (URC) – TG4 / Premier Sports 1 & Online / URC TV / NOW
7:45pm – Cardiff v Edinburgh (URC) – S4C / BBC iPlayer / YouTube / Premier Sports 2 & Online / URC TV / NOW
8:00pm – Bordeaux v Bayonne (Top 14) – Premier Sports Rugby & Online / Unavailable live in ROI

Sunday 26 October

3:00pm – Gloucester Hartpury Women v Saracens Women (PWR) – TNT Sports 1 / Discovery+ / NOW
8:05pm – Toulouse v Toulon (Top 14)– Premier Sports Rugby & Online / Unavailable live in ROI

Final thoughts

Thanks for reading. If you’re enjoying the newsletter, please like, share and subscribe. As always, please reach out if you have any feedback.

*TV guide subject to change. The website version of this newsletter will be updated if required.

Rugby Broadcast