Premier Sports’ live coverage of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup starts on Friday evening with six derby fixtures being shown live across the weekend in Wales, Scotland, Italy and Ireland to open the new competition.
Expect some hot contests and rivalries to be reignited, as clubs start afresh with a clean slate in a new competition with silverware at stake.
The Rainbow Cup will bring rugby supporters the chance to spot exciting new rugby talent as young players get their chance to shine as well as enjoying action from a host of rugby’s star performers ahead of a summer tests for the British and Irish Lions and home nations.
Premier Sports as host broadcaster of the Guinness PRO14 will bring every second of the action to its TV screens with a top team of its experienced commentators, presenters and pundits on hand to give plenty of analysis, colour and insight into the games ahead.
Premier Sports’ team for the opening round of the PRO14 Rainbow Cup lines up as follows:
- Fri April 23 Edinburgh v Zebre: Dougie Vipond, Jim Hamilton, Chris Paterson, Rory Hamilton, Jenny Drummond
- Fri April 23 Ulster v Connacht: Graham Little, Andrew Trimble, Bernard Jackman, Mark Robson, Paul Marshall
- Sat April 24 Benetton v Glasgow Warriors: Chris Paterson and Rory Lawson
- Sat April 24 Ospreys v Cardiff Blues: Ross Harries, Shane Williams, Jamie Roberts, Eddie Butler, Owain Gwynedd Griffith
- Sun April 24 Dragons v Scarlets: Ross Harries, Sean Holley, Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin, Wyn Gruffydd, Lauren Jenkins
It's a double on Friday night as the ‘Northern Hemisphere’ competition kicks off in Northern Ireland and Scotland as the two runners-up of Conference A and B collide, with Ulsterhosting Connacht (Premier Sports 1 from 7.45pm) and Edinburgh play Zebre (Premier Sports 2 from 8pm) with the hosts looking for a kick-start after being knocked out in Europe by Racing 92.
There are three matches on Saturday with Benetton welcoming Glasgow Warriors to Treviso while Ospreys and Cardiff Blues clash in Swansea before a repeat of the Guinness PRO14 final when Leinster and Munster battle again at the RDS Arena.
Dragons and Scarlets meet at Rodney Parade on Sunday to close out the opening round (live on Premier Sports 1 from 12.30pm). With derbies never short of fireworks and drama there will be plenty for Premier Sports TV viewers to enjoy this weekend.
The four South African ‘Super’ clubs who had been due to form part of a 16-team format will start their ‘Southern’ competition next weekend in South Africa after being unable to travel to the UK and Ireland due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Rainbow Cup becomes a dual tournament with no cross-hemisphere fixtures.
Every game in the Rainbow Cup from both hemispheres will be shown live on Premier Sports channels.
This weekend’s coverage of the six Rainbow Cup opening fixtures live on Premier Sports:
- Fri 23 April Ulster v Connacht: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 7.45pm (KO 8.15pm)
- Fri 23 April Edinburgh v Zebre: Live on Premier Sports 2 from 8pm (KO 8.15pm)
- Sat 24 April Benetton v Glasgow Warriors: Live Premier Sports 2 at 12.50pm (KO 1pm UK)
- Sat 24 April Ospreys v Cardiff Blues: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 5pm (KO 5.15pm)
- Sat 24 April Leinster v Munster: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 7.30pm (KO 7.35pm)
- Sun 25 April Dragons v Scarlets: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 12.30pm (KO 1pm)
Former Scotland and Edinburgh international and record points scorer Chris Paterson will be part of Premier Sports team this weekend.
He said there was plenty to look forward to in coming weeks with a fresh competition and slates wiped clean for all clubs: “Players and coaches in all the PRO14 teams will be really excited to be back and representing their clubs not only for the here and now, but also they will be getting a head start towards the new season.
“It’s competitive rugby which the clubs and players need, a trophy is at stake and there are individual accolades up for grabs as we close into summer tests for British and Irish Lions as well as potential home nations games. There’s a personal drive for players but also a real club drive, to represent your club in a condensed format with silverware to go for. Fans are guaranteed live rugby and the chance to get behind their clubs before the summer. Add into the mix the better weather and I’m really hopeful that the Rainbow Cup will deliver abrasive, fast and fluent games."
Chris Paterson said he’d expect to see a mix of senior players and young talent on the field and is excited about new stars in the making that supporters may not have seen much of.
He said: “We’ll see internationals, some may need rest but at the same time they won't want to rest too much with what’s ahead. Equally, we’ll see new, younger players who have that raw excitement and desire to show what they can do to compete at the top level, and that brings a real exuberance as well as the odd mistake sometimes! But if you look at the young players across the Guinness PRO14 this season, a lot of them have performed very well when international players have been away - creating competition for spaces that will be heightened now with everyone back.
“There are not many points in a season when you can almost start again and it gives Edinburgh and Glasgow the opportunity to do that after having disappointing knock-out results in Europe. They’ve had two weekends without a fixture, they can get over disappointment, make a mark in the sand and apply themselves with a fresh approach for this next block. I think we’ll see exciting rugby from the teams and there will be young Scottish players putting their hands up and I’m looking forward to that.”
And on the South African ‘Southern’ hemisphere competition in the Rainbow Cup, Chris Paterson said: “Obviously it’s a shame not to see these players in the flesh at our grounds, but like many big rugby fans, I’ll watch games from around the world from home in Edinburgh. Premier Sports coverage of every game means we have the chance to watch star-studded names play with Rugby World Cup winners from South Africa who will playing later on the summer. It’s also about watching how the trends of the games change, how the southern hemisphere game is being played, attacking strategies, defensive strengths - for sure players and coaches will be taking a close look at these games ahead of the summer.”
On the three law variations that have been approved by World Rugby for trial in the Rainbow Cup (red card replacements, captain’s challenge and goal-line drop-outs), Chris Paterson added: “Rugby is a progressive sport and particularly with a primary focus being on player welfare, it means trials are really important. These are not set in stone but you never really know the pros and cons until you try. I think it’s a good opportunity and it’s great the league is open to it - I really like the goal line drop out and I’m excited to see that one. I know a lot of players are excited by them - it may bring excitement, it may bring some frustration who knows - but the answers will help progress the sport.”
