ESPN has selected its next set of live and exclusive Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures as the season enters its final stages over March and April.
The sports media company will bring fans two live games every weekend between rounds 18 and 21 during the decisive final phases of the regular season. ESPN’s action kicks off with league leaders Harlequins taking on lower-table strugglers Bath Rugby on Saturday 24th March, followed on Sunday 25th March by the clash between the top four chasing sides London Irish and Leicester Tigers.
Leicester v Worcester Warriors is live on Friday 30th March, while on Saturday 31st March ESPN will be at the Recreation Ground as Bath, looking to move away from the lower end of the table and challenge for European qualification, welcome Northampton Saints. Round 20 will see a double header on Saturday 14th April featuring a top-of-the-table clash between Northampton and Leicester and a London derby between Harlequins and Wasps.
The penultimate weekend of the regular season pits bottom club Newcastle Falcons against Premiership Champions Saracens on Friday 20th April, while Exeter Chiefs, looking to cap a successful second season in the league with European qualification, take on Northampton Saints on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd April.
ESPN’s live televised Aviva Premiership Rugby 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 pitch side.
Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights 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 weekly opinion and analysis from Healey and Kay.
Including these new games, ESPN’s live and exclusive Aviva Premiership Rugby matches are (kick off times):
February
Saturday 11th Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints 2:15pm
Sunday 12th London Wasps v Saracens 1:15pm
Saturday 18th Harlequins v Worcester Warriors 5:30pm
Friday 24th Worcester Warriors v Saracens 7:45pm
Saturday 25th Gloucester Rugby v Harlequins 6:00pm
March
Friday 2nd Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins 7:45pm
Sunday 4th Saracens v Northampton Saints 3:30pm
Saturday 24th Harlequins v Bath 2:15pm
Sunday 25th London Irish v Leicester Tigers 3:00pm
Friday 30th Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors 7:45pm
Saturday 31st Bath v Northampton Saints 5:30pm
April
Saturday 14th Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers 2:15pm
Saturday 14th Harlequins v London Wasps 4:30pm
Friday 20th Newcastle Falcons v Saracens 7:45pm
Sunday 22th Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints 2:00pm
*Timings subject to change.
ESPN is available on:
Sky SD/ HD – 417, Virgin 529 / HD – 530, BT Vision / Top Up TV / Freeview – 34
