– Live clashes include Leicester v Northampton and Saracens v London Irish
– Key matches over the crucial Christmas and New Year period
ESPN has announced its latest set of live Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures as it brings fans coverage of nine games over five rounds between late November and early January.
Action from the latest televised fixtures begins on Friday 25th November with newly promoted Worcester Warriors’ clash against Bath Rugby, followed on Saturday 26th November by Gloucester Rugby taking on Leicester Tigers. Saturday 3rd December sees ESPN cover Leicester Tigers hosting Northampton Saints, while on Sunday 4th December current champions Saracens face London Irish.
On Boxing Day, ESPN brings viewers’ coverage of London Wasps’ trip to Gloucester Rugby, and the following day, broadcasts Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers. On New Year’s Eve it brings fans Exeter Chiefs against Harlequins. On New Year’s Day it is live from the Recreation Ground as Bath Rugby welcomes London Irish and on Friday 6th January, Northampton take on Harlequins at Franklin’s Gardens.
These latest fixtures form part of ESPN’s 43 live Aviva Premiership schedule this season, its second as the lead television partner of Aviva Premiership Rugby. The schedule culminates at Twickenham with exclusively live coverage of the Final. ESPN’s live televised Aviva Premiership matches are broadcast on-site at all the grounds from a custom built set, with all pre and post match discussion being led by Mark Durden-Smith alongside analysts, and former England internationals, Austin Healey and Ben Kay and a guest from the world of rugby every week. Commentary comes from Nick Mullins together with Healey and Kay. Sarra Elgan continues as ESPN’s chief rugby reporter, bringing all the news and player interviews from pitchside.
Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights continues to bring fans a roundup of all the weekend’s action and talking points each week on ESPN. Online, ESPN.co.uk/rugby offers extensive coverage of rugby across the globe, with news, previews, results and video alongside exclusive weekly opinion and analysis from Healey and Kay.
Upon the announcement of the latest fixtures, Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President & Channel Manager, ESPN, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Following a great start to the Aviva Premiership season, with some unexpected results and new players on show as a result of the Rugby World Cup, these latest matches on ESPN will provide rugby fans with key clashes during the middle phase of the season.”
Aviva Premiership Rugby is part of ESPN’s established heritage of rugby coverage in the UK and around the world. In the UK, ESPN also delivers live coverage of French Top 14 Orange rugby as well as international matches featuring France, Italy, Australia and Argentina. In addition, ESPN Classic brings viewers archive matches and footage from each of the six Rugby World Cup tournaments to date in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Latest live and exclusive Aviva Premiership Rugby matches on ESPN (KO times):
November
Friday 25th Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby 7:45pm
Saturday 26th Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers 2:15pm
December
Saturday 3rd Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints 2:15pm
Sunday 4th Saracens v London Irish 2:00pm
Monday 26th Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps 3:00pm
Tuesday 27th Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers 2:00pm
Saturday 31st Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins 3:45pm
January
Sunday 1st Bath Rugby v London Irish 1:30pm
Friday 6th Northampton Saints v Harlequins 7:45pm
*Timings subject to change.
Aviva Premiership Rugby adds to ESPN’s established heritage of rugby coverage in the UK and around the world. In the UK, ESPN also delivers live coverage of French Top 14 Orange rugby as well as international matches featuring France, Italy, Australia and Argentina. ESPN also has an agreement to show archive matches and footage from each of the six Rugby World Cup tournaments to date on ESPN Classic in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
ESPN is available on:
Sky SD/ HD – 417, Virgin 529 / HD – 530, BT Vision / Top Up TV / Freeview – 34, TalkTalk TV – 555
