DRAGONS supporters who subscribe to Premier Sports will now get to watch European rugby as part of the package.
The broadcaster – who already show every game in the United Rugby Championship – has struck a deal to be the lead broadcaster for the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup.
The three-year contract starts this season and will run until 2027, tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) said.
Premier Sports succeed TNT Sports in the role, with them covering all 63 Champions Cup games, plus two EPCR Challenge Cup matches per round, two in the last-16 and all knockout fixtures from the quarter-finals onwards.
The Dragons’ first European fixture against Montpellier at Rodney Parade on Friday, December 6 (8pm) will be live on S4C.
The trip to Newcastle on Sunday, December 15 (3.15pm) will be on epcrugby.tv while the round three fixture against Pau in Newport on Sunday, January 12 (3.15pm) will be on Premier Sports.
The finale against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, January 18 (3.15pm) is currently just listed as being on South African broadcaster SuperSport.
The move is a boost for fans of URC clubs but English supporters will need two separate subscriptions to follow their clubs on TV as TNT have the rights to the Gallagher Premiership.
It is understood that no Champions Cup or Challenge Cup matches will feature on terrestrial television in England – although the Champions Cup final could be an exception – with ITV and Channel 4 having shown games on an occasional basis during recent seasons.
Premier Sports, meanwhile, are planning to create a dedicated rugby union channel as they increase coverage that already includes a substantial number of live URC and French Top 14 fixtures.
EPCR chief executive Jacques Raynaud said: “Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to Top 14 and URC competitions.
“Furthermore, we have been able to work with Premier Sports to ensure new fixture times for English clubs, avoiding clashes with Premier League football to maximise viewing.
“In addition to the match-day coverage, the creation of a 24/7 rugby channel represents a step-change in Premier Sports’ rugby coverage.”
The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup kick off in early December, with the finals of both competitions being staged at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in May next year.
The tournaments have suffered in recent years from confusing formats, only really getting exciting in the knockout stages.
There has also been plenty of French indifference to the Challenge Cup given the importance of the Top 14, which features the threat of relegation.
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