Who will broadcast Super Rugby in the UK in 2021?

Sarah Mockford

RugbyPass have secured the rights to stream Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in the UK & Ireland

Who will broadcast Super Rugby in the UK in 2021?

RugbyPass has secured the rights to stream Super Rugby Trans-Tasman in the UK and Ireland this season.

The online platform had a partnership with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to stream live Super Rugby Aotearoa matches, including the Crusaders’ final win over the Chiefs last weekend, and it has now agreed a deal with NZR and Rugby Australia to do the same for the Trans-Tasman competition.

Super Rugby Trans-Tasman features the five New Zealand franchises – Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Hurricanes – and five Australian franchises – Brumbies, Force, Rebels, Reds and Waratahs. There are five regular rounds of five matches, starting on Friday 14 May, followed by a final on Saturday 19 June.

RugbyPass will show all 26 matches live in more than 60 countries, including the UK and Ireland. Season passes are available for £39.99/€49.99/$59.99.

Sky Sports has been the long-running broadcaster of matches from the southern hemisphere’s big club competition in the UK, but its rights deal came to an end last year.

Australia’s Super Rugby AU competition, which was won by the Reds last weekend, was streamed by World Rugby for free in territories where the competition was not being broadcast, including the UK and Ireland.

Now RugbyPass will follow its coverage of the Aotearoa competition by streaming Trans-Tasman matches through its OTT streaming service.

SUPER RUGBY TEAM GUIDES

NZR CEO Mark Robinson said: “Rugby supporters across the globe are fans of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition and we are delighted to partner with RugbyPass to deliver our competition worldwide.

“The rugby will be fantastic and NZR are excited to be able to share this with the world.”

The time difference means these matches have morning kick-offs on Friday and Saturday in the UK but RugbyPass viewers will be able to watch matches on demand should they want a lie-in!

Sky’s rugby coverage has continued to dwindle over the years and its loss of Super Rugby means the British & Irish Lions tour is the only event left on its roster.

Obviously the pandemic has impacted all areas of business and many budgets have been cut, but lockdown has meant that TV companies have a captive audience, with live sport a big attraction, so the absence of Super Rugby from UK TV screens seems like an opportunity missed.

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