CHAMPIONSHIP TV JACKPOT

SARACENS’ relegation last week has sparked an unprecedented bidding war for Championship TV rights that could give the RFU a major windfall. Sky Sports are the rights-holders for the second tier, which is owned by the RFU, with a contract to show a minimum of 11 matches a year, but that deal expires at the end of this season. Sky are keen to retain Championship rugby, but Saracens’ unexpected presence in the semi-professional league next season has increased its value and they will face competition from BT Sport. BT hold the rights to the Premiership and European Champions Cup and are eager to cement themselves as the country’s premier rugby channel. The Championship rights were last sold in 2014 as part of a package worth around £35million that included England autumn internationals, warm-up games before the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and England women’s matches. The presence of Saracens in the Championship gives the RFU an opportunity to sell the competition as a stand-alone package and bring in new cash. RFU sources revealed they are working on plans for the next Championship broadcast deal and expect a resolution by the summer.

ENGLAND

No 8 Billy Vunipola is not expected to play for more than four months after receiving the full diagnosis on his broken arm. Vunipola suffered the break — his fourth such injury — during Saracens’ Champions Cup victory over Racing 92 on Sunday. It leaves him in a race against time to feature for his club before England’s summer tour of Japan in July. Director of rugby Mark McCall said: ‘It ranges from 16 weeks to a lot longer than that.’ McCall, however, backed rookie England back-row Ben Earl to fill the void. ‘Ben is having a phenomenal season,’ he said. ‘He has just come through this year at the right time. He is exceptional.’