EPCR secure game-changing new deal for Champions Cup replacing TNT Sport
Antoine Dupont lifts the Champions Cup trophy after the final.
Premier Sport will be the home of both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup from this season, the EPCR have confirmed today.
The European competitions had previously been aired on TNT Sports, however they will now be aired on Premier Sports until the end of the 2026/2027 season as part of the new deal. It also means all 63 matches of the Champions and Challenge Cup campaigns will be aired on Premier Sports.
Premier Sports also currently broadcasts both the Top 14 and URC in the UK and also showed some EPCR Challenge Cup fixtures last year.
New Champions Cup broadcast deal
In a statement, Jacques Raynaud, CEO of EPCR, said: “Premier Sports has huge ambition to become the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, along with their rights to TOP14 and URC competitions. We are delighted to join them on this journey and tremendously excited to help them reach new heights by bringing the very best of elite club rugby to UK and Ireland audiences.”
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“We have worked with the team at Premier Sports for many years both on the EPCR Challenge Cup in the UK and Ireland and as our broadcaster in Asia. We have been very impressed with their commitment and ability to raise the profile and production of URC coverage to exciting new levels and we look forward to working with them as EPCR continues the ambitious growth of its competitions.”
Mickey O’Rourke, founding Managing Director of Premier Sports, added: “We are delighted and proud to bring the world’s greatest international club rugby competition to our customers in the UK and Ireland.”
“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.”
Creation of 24/7 rugby channel
As part of the new TV deal, Premier Sports will create a dedicated 24/7 rugby channel, which will play host to all of it’s rugby coverage for the full three years as part of the deal.
Raynaud added: “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 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be at the heart of this new offering, led by key rugby personalities including Stephen Ferris, John Barclay, Tom Shanklin and Ryan Wilson.”
“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.”
How to join Premier Sports
Premier Sports membership starts from £10.99 per month and includes access to the Premier Sports streaming service, which can be streamed on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, PC and Mac, Fire TV and Chromecast, LG Smart TVs and Android TV enabled devices.
In the UK, it is available in the UK on Sky TV channels 419 and 420, Virgin as channels 551 and 552 and on Amazon Prime as an add on subscription.
In the Republic of Ireland, Premier Sports is available as part of the ‘Sports Extra’ Pack on Sky, NOW, Virgin Media and Vodafone.
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