BT favourites to show key Championship games

BT SPORT have emerged as frontrunners to show live coverage of this season’s Greene King IPA Championship play-offs.

The high-profile matches, which are expected to involve fallen giants Saracens, are scheduled to take place on June 12 and 19.

A well-placed source told The Rugby Paper that a deal is “99 per cent certain” to be completed this week and may also include rights to the Saracens v Ealing clash scheduled for April 24, subject to agreeing a suitable revenue share.

Premier Sports had previously been lined-up to show one regular Championship game per week but their offer was rejected after sides with bigger local support preferred to go it alone by offering in-house live streaming.

Meanwhile, rugby fans have voted overwhelmingly against scrapping promotion and relegation between the Premiership and Championship.

Asked by TRP writer Jon Newcombe if the Premiership should be ring-fenced for the next three or four years, 76.4 per cent of 1,332 respondents said no.