The Rugby Broadcast Report Issue 6: TV Guide May 30-June 1
Never miss a game
Following a weekend of European Cup final rugby, the domestic competitions are back with a bang this weekend.
After a thrilling Race to the Eight finish to the URC regular season, teams from four of the five participating countries have made it through to the knockout stages of the URC. Glasgow host the Stormers on Friday night (7:35pm, Premier Sports 1 & Rugby / TG4 / NOW / URC TV), where 23-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at fly-half for the visitors, while Damian Willemse misses out due to a suspension.
On Saturday, the Bulls host an Edinburgh side boosted by the return of Duhan van der Merwe at 12:30pm (Premier Sports 1 / NOW / URC TV), while Scarlets face a daunting trip to the Aviva to take on a wounded Leinster at 3:00pm (BBC 1 Wales / iPlayer / RTÉ 2 / Premier Sports 1 / NOW / URC TV). Sharks v Munster rounds out the quarter-final line-up at 5:30pm (TG4, Premier Sports 1 & 2, NOW, URC TV).
Meanwhile, the Premiership heads into its final round. Bath are the only team already guaranteed a semi-final spot, but the race behind them is wide open. Leicester Tigers are nearly there — any point will do — while Sale, Bristol, Gloucester and Saracens all remain in the hunt.
In addition to the URC and Premiership fixtures, the final round of Super Rugby Pacific takes place this weekend, with play-off seedings up for grabs. There’s also free Pro D2 semi-final action, the Japanese League One final, MLR, and Top 14 coverage.
Fixture of the weekend (admittedly biased)
URC QF: Sharks v Munster
Kick-off: 5.30pm IRE & UK / 6:30pm local
TV: TG4, Premier Sports 1 & 2, NOW, URC TV
Venue: King’s Park Stadium, Durban
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
ARs: Sam Grove White (SRU) & Morne Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Keith David (WRU)
The Sharks may not have set the world alight this season, but they’ll be out to silence their critics in Durban. Munster, meanwhile, welcome back Jack Crowley from a hip injury — a major boost — but this contest is likely to be decided up front. And when it comes to the pack, the Springbok-laden Sharks should have the upper hand.
Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, and Lukhanyo Am will all likely headline a star-studded side that has hit form at just the right time, enjoying a four-match winning streak in the URC. Kings Park has become a fortress too — the Sharks have only lost there twice all season, and those defeats came against Leinster and Toulouse.
But it’s Munster. It’s knockout rugby. It’s potentially Peter O’Mahony’s last game. Strap yourself in for what should be a cracking game.
Quote of the week
They struck the deal at exactly the right time, football didn’t. And there’s a relationship thing as well. The deal with Canal+, the Top 14 deal, goes back nearly 40 years.
— James Harrington on The Counter Ruck Podcast
French rugby is flying. While DAZN is reportedly set to walk away from its Ligue 1 contract after just one season, the Top 14 has gone in the opposite direction — securing a landmark deal with Canal+ worth €696.8 million over five seasons (2027–2032). That’s an average of €139.4 million per year, up 14.7% on the current cycle.
However, as journalist James Harrington points out, the deal is about more than just timing. It reflects the strength of the Top 14’s long-standing relationship with Canal+, which stretches back nearly four decades. That kind of stability matters. Just look at how central Sky has been to the success of the Premier League. That partnership is now heading into a new phase, with Sky set to expand its coverage from 128 games to at least 215 games per season from 2025.
When broadcasters and leagues invest in each other for the long haul, the rewards tend to follow.
Rugby media rights news
Champ Rugby (RFU Championship) and Pro D2 could both be shown on Premier Sports next season, according to City AM. There’s now a distinct possibility that the French second division could be available in Ireland and the UK for the first time in five years — potentially on two separate broadcasters.
According to Gerry Thornley, RTÉ’s Champions Cup coverage will end next season and Against the Head could be scrapped.
The Oceania Rugby U20s tournament kicked-off this week and continues in the early hours of Monday morning, with free coverage on RugbyPass TV.
Premier Sports is now available on Sky Stream and Sky Glass in the UK. The app was launched just in time for the Champions Cup final. There are no plans to launch linear channels on either platform in the near future and the app remains unavailable in the Republic of Ireland.
EPCR has signed a multi-year broadcast extension with FloSports in the United States.
Former BT Sport reporter Tim Cocker, who is the mastermind of the FR-UK YouTube channel, shared a video recently about his decision to acquire the TV rights to the Pro D2 (below). He also did an interview with The Telegraph that is well worth a read.
TV Guide May 30-June 1
Friday May 30
8:05am – Highlanders v Chiefs (Super Rugby Pacific) – Sky Sports Action / NOW
10:35am – Brumbies v Crusaders (Super Rugby Pacific) – Sky Sports Action / NOW
7:35pm – Glasgow v Stormers (URC) – Premier Sports 1 & Rugby / TG4 / NOW / URC TV
8:00pm – Brive v Montauban (Pro D2) – YouTube
Saturday May 31
12:30am – Miami Sharks v San Diego Legion (MLR) – The Rugby Network
2:00am – Utah Warriors v Anthem (MLR) – The Rugby Network
5:35am – Blues v Waratahs (Super Rugby Pacific) – Sky Sports Action / NOW
6:05am – Kobe Steelers v Wild Knights (League One) – Premier Sports Rugby / Unavailable live in ROI
8:05am – Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika (Super Rugby Pacific) – Sky Sports Action / NOW
10:35am – Reds v Fijian Drua (Super Rugby Pacific) – Sky Sports Action / NOW
12:30pm – Bulls v Edinburgh (URC) – Premier Sports 1 / NOW / URC TV
1:30pm – Clermont v Stade Français (Top 14) – Premier Sports 2 & Rugby / TV5MONDE / NOW
3:00pm – Leinster v Scarlets (URC) – BBC 1 Wales / iPlayer / RTÉ 2 / Premier Sports 1 / NOW / URC TV
3:05pm – Bristol v Harlequins (Premiership) – TNT Sports 1 / Discovery+ / NOW
3:05pm – Exeter Chiefs v Sale (Premiership) – TNT Sports Extra / Discovery+
3:05pm – Gloucester v Northampton (Premiership) – TNT Sports Extra / Discovery+
3:05pm – Leicester v Newcastle (Premiership) – TNT Sports Extra / Discovery+
3:05pm – Saracens v Bath (Premiership) – TNT Sports Extra / Discovery+
3:30pm – Castres v Bayonne (Top 14) – Premier Sports 2 & Rugby / NOW
5:30pm – Sharks v Munster (URC) – TG4 / Premier Sports 1 & 2 / NOW / URC TV
11:00pm – Old Glory v RFC LA (MLR) – Premier Sports 1 / The Rugby Network
Sunday June 1
12:00am – Chicago Hounds v NOLA (MLR) – The Rugby Network
7:05am – Brave Lupus v Spears (League One) – Premier Sports Rugby / Unavailable live in ROI
4:30pm – Toulouse v Lyon (Top 14) – Premier Sports 1 / NOW
7:00pm – Free Jacks v Seawolves (MLR) – Premier Sports Rugby / The Rugby Network
8:05pm – Toulon v Bordeaux (Top 14) – Premier Sports 1 / NOW