Wales’ tests in Americas to be shown live on C4
WALES’ match against South Africa and the two Tests against Argentina will be shown live on Channel 4, the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed.
S4C will then show match highlights of each game the following day, with further details to be released on their coverage.
Warren Gatland’s squad – co-captained by Cory Hill and Ellis Jenkins – head to Washington DC at the end of May for their first Test against South Africa on Saturday, June 2, (kick-off 10pm UK time).
The squad will then head to South America for their first Test against the Pumas on Saturday, June 9, before they come up against the side again on Saturday, June 16 (kick-off time of 8.40pm for both matches).
As revealed by WalesOnline earlier this month, it is the first time Wales rugby matches have ever been shown on the channel, which is not known for its rugby coverage.
It’s believed the BBC and online broadcaster Amazon were also interested in screening Wales’ matches.
Channel 4 has no track record of covering international rugby but has a four-year deal to broadcast nine live European Champions Cup matches each season from 2018/19.
It was also confirmed in April that the BBC had lost the rights to broadcast PRO14 matches, with pay TV channel Premier Sports taking over.
WRU group chief executive Martyn Phillips said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Channel 4 to deliver live rights to all three of this summer’s tests.
“The squad will be travelling across the Americas facing Rugby Championship opposition and it is great that the matches will be shown live on free-to-air TV on Saturday evenings back here in the UK.
“Channel 4 have a strong sporting pedigree with an innovative reputation and have recently announced a long-term deal to show the Champions Cup and we are looking forward to working with them.”
Channel 4’s sports editor, Stephen Lyle, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing rugby to Channel 4 viewers for the first time and the fact it’s Wales taking on teams of the calibre of South Africa and Argentina makes it even more special.”