Amazon prepare TV bid for rugby

AMAZON are looking at entering the market for Premiership Rugby rights even though they have still three years to run with BT Sport.

Blindside sources have revealed that Amazon, who looked at Premier League football rights last month, are taking a serious interest in rugby.

They are also being linked with providing Sky with serious competition for the right to broadcast New Zealand rugby, which expires in 2021 at the same time as BT Sports’ Premiership deal.

BT’s latest deal with the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, which starts next season, will run out a year later in 2022.

Global tech giants Amazon have deep pockets and would be serious players if they decide they want to get involved in rugby.

We also understand that they are interested in speaking to a couple of Premiership clubs about featuring in a behindthe-scenes documentary.

They recently paid Manchester City £10m for access to follow them this season but a Premiership club would receive considerably less.

It would still be a handy windfall for many clubs. ■SALE SHARKS are set to offer Josh Charnley a new contract after he closed the door on a return to Rugby League.

Charnley, right, joined the Sharks in October 2016 after scoring the match-winning try in Super League’s Grand Final at Old Trafford and was widely expected to return to Wigan Warriors.

Warrington Wolves were also interested in taking the winger back to League but both clubs have no room for the 26-year-old on their payroll.

And despite him finding it harder to score tries in Union than in Super League I understand an extension is in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, a source at the AJ Bell Stadium has told me the club are not interested in signing Quins tighthead Kyle Sinckler. The England star is still in contract with Quins but illformed twitter accounts had linked him with a move to the Sharks at the end of the season.