The Premier Sports talent team for Wales includes a very experienced and popular line-up of Welsh Rugby presenters, reporters and commentators to bring the best match coverage to Welsh rugby supporters and includes: Martyn Williams, Eddie Butler, Ross Harries, Sean Holley, Wyn Gruffydd and Lauren Jenkins.
Also announced are two Welsh rugby greats, Sam Warburton and Shane Williams. The duo will be joining the Premier Sports team to commentate on some of Welsh rugby’s most exciting encounters of the 2018/19 PRO14 season which kicks off in just over two weeks.
After announcing his retirement from the game in July, with an illustrious career that includes 74 caps for his country with a record 49 as captain, Sam Warburton will be joining Premier Sports as a guest for some of the biggest fixtures during the season, including the Welsh Derbies and the season opener between Cardiff Blues and Leinster on Friday 31st August at Cardiff Arms Park.
The line-up in Wales will be joining Northern Ireland’s team of Andrew Trimble, Mark Robson and Graham Little, announced last week and with more high profile names to be announced for TV teams in Scotland next.
Shane Williams said: “This is an exciting time for the Guinness PRO14 and the Welsh regions in particular. It’s an honour to be a part of Premier Sports inaugural coverage of the competition and I’m really looking forward to what should be a thrilling and hard-fought season.”
Martyn Williams said: “Having played in the Guinness PRO14 at its inception as a player, it’s been fantastic to see the Championship grow year-on-year and become a truly world class competition. It is a privilege to be part of Premier Sport inaugural season of coverage and I can’t wait for the it all to begin.”
Eddie Butler said: “The game moves forward and coverage of the game moves forward. It’s a real thrill to be involved in this new chapter with Premier. The Guinness PRO14 is a true spearhead of the game in Europe and South Africa, never afraid to embrace new challenges, cross new boundaries and put on a show.”
Ross Harries said: “”Over the past seven years, I’ve been privileged to stand pitch side and watch some of the finest players in the world do battle. During that time the Guinness PRO14 as evolved and grown, and it’s no surprise that the league now contains both the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup winners. Few things inspire as much passion as rugby in Wales, and I can’t wait to be a part of this exciting new chapter in the league’s history.”
The team will be working with Sunset+Vine, founded in Wales and one of rugby’s most experienced and creative independent production companies with a track record that includes seven years of Aviva Premiership coverage with both ESPN and for the past four years, BT Sport. Sunset+Vine’s three year deal will see them produce more than 200 hours of live rugby coverage for Premier Sports each season including the annual showpiece final at Celtic Park in May 2019.
Premier Sports has signed a landmark three-year deal with PRO14 Rugby to show all 152 games live each season across the UK including Northern Ireland. The season kicks off on 31st August with all seven games live on Premier Sports and Free Sports on the opening weekend.
Premier Sports is available in 16 million UK homes across Sky and Virgin platforms and to everyone via the Premier Player while FreeSports will be available to 22 million UK homes this season across seven different platforms.
