Sky's The Limit

By RothMan
July 10 2003

The fat controller and his Sky TV pals will be seeing what we have to offer this season when the cameras are trained on Millmoor on September 20. Quins are the highly attractive - and very beatable - opponents!

We've been given the honour of being only the second side to be televised live in the new season and the revenue from the home match will be well worth having.

The opening match sees Champions, London Wasps in a London derby against Harlequins at The Stoop. Bit odd having Quins featured twice in a week - is this something to do withthe fact that The Stoop is not too far away from Sky TV's HQ?

This seasom live Saturday games will be scheduled for a 2.45pm kick-off - "in line with club requests allowing latest scores and live reports from other Saturday games across the country to be featured on the live Sky game at half-time and full-time."

I do not understand that reasoning. The games should be either before or after the 3.00 kick offs so that suppoprters in rugby clubs up and down the country can watch them with a pint in their hand! Anyone agree?

Anyway credit to Sky for their excellent Rugby coverage and here is a message from our benefactor! :.... "We're really excited about the new Zurich Premiership season on Sky Sports," said Martin Turner, Sky Sports Executive Producer, Rugby Union.

"With a regular Saturday afternoon slot we'll be able to update our viewers with live reports from the other action in the Premiership during the intervals in our live match coverage and with action from last season's finalists as well as Premiership newcomers, Rotherham to look forward to in the first 2 weeks of the season, it's a thrilling line-up of matches."

Sky Sports will show up to 28 matches exclusively live from the Zurich Premiership this season in addition to The Rugby Club, Sky's weekly magazine programme that keeps you up to date with rugby union action from around the world.

Simon Lazenby will host expert analysis of the Zurich Premiership games from Dewi Morris and Michael Lynagh in the studio, with Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison providing incisive match commentary. Graham Simmons will be pitchside gleaning interviews and reaction from players and coaches.

.The confirmed live Zurich Premiership fixtures for 2003 are:

SEPTEMBER

Sat 13th NEC Harlequins vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm

Sat 20th Rotherham vs NEC Harlequins k.o. 2.45pm

Sat 27th Gloucester vs Saracens k.o. 2.45pm

OCTOBER

Sat 4th Leicester Tigers vs Sale Sharks k.o. 2.45pm

Sun 5th London Wasps vs Bath k.o. 2.00pm

Sat 11th Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers k.o. 2.45pm

Wed 15th Saracens vs Northampton Saints k.o. 7.45pm

Sun 19th Bath vs Saracens k.o. 2.00pm

Sat 25th Newcastle Falcons vs Bath k.o. 2.45pm

Fri 31st Sale Sharks vs London Irish k.o. 7.45pm

NOVEMBER

Sat 1st Northampton Saints vs Gloucester k.o. 2.45pm

Sat 8th Leeds Tykes vs Sale Sharks k.o. 2.45pm

Fri 21st London Wasps vs Gloucester k.o. 7.45pm

Sat 29th Newcastle Falcons vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm

DECEMBER

Sat 20th Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers k.o. 2.45pm

Sat 27th London Irish vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm