Latest news with #LionsTour
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Lions match highlights on free-to-air TV this summer
The British and Irish Lions' tour to Australia will be available to watch free-to-air on TV this summer – but for now, only in Welsh. The Guardian has learned that the Lions have agreed a deal for a highlights package with Welsh language channel S4C, which will be available via S4C's iPlayer service and YouTube channel. S4C is understood to have bought highlights rights for all three Test matches and the Lions' six tour games, which will be broadcast in Welsh. S4C will also broadcast full live coverage of the Lions' send-off Test against Argentina in Dublin on June 20th, available in English and Welsh. The bespoke Welsh TV offering may raise eyebrows as there are just two Welshmen in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad – flanker Jac Morgan and scrumhalf Tomos Williams – but illustrates S4C's commitment to rugby at a level that is not matched by other terrestrial broadcasters. READ MORE The Welsh contingent is their lowest ever, meaning they join Ireland in 1993, and Scotland in 2009 and 2017, as the least represented countries on a Lions tour. Sky Sports has the exclusive live rights for its eighth successive Lions tour and will also offer its own highlights show. The Lions remain hopeful of securing a free-to-air highlights deal in England, but have yet to do so three weeks before their first official tour game in Dublin. Channel 4 bought UK highlights rights for the Lions' last tour, to South Africa four years ago, but has not made an offer on this occasion, while ITV, BBC Sport and Channel 5 have also yet to bid. The BBC has also failed to secure live radio rights this year, with the Lions partnering with TalkSport for the fourth successive tour. The BBC's priority this summer is the women's European Championship, as well as saving resources for next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, which will be an expensive undertaking. ITV also has live rights for the European Championship, Channel 4 is covering the men's Under-21 European Championship and Channel 5 has agreed to sublicence 23 Club World Cup matches from DAZN, so the terrestrial channels are committed elsewhere. The BBC has reduced its rugby coverage in recent years, with ITV securing the rights to all of England's Six Nations matches until 2030 in a joint deal signed earlier this year. As part of the new contract ITV will show 10 matches from each year's Six Nations to the BBC's five, which will feature Wales and Scotland's home fixtures, provided England are not involved. The Lions and S4C declined to comment. – Guardian
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
How rugby could take a leaf out of NFL's book regarding off-season
Are you 'all rugby'd out'? That's how a former international referee, who Johnny Watterson bumped in to recently, described himself, this season, just like last, having 'a never-ending feel to it' . If either Leinster or Munster reach the URC final, that will mean their campaigns, which began in September, will stretch to June 14th - and after that it'll be a Lions tour or Irish duty for a good chunk of their players. Johnny reckons rugby could learn from the NFL and their nine-week off-season programme which is designed to ease the workload on their crew. Alex Nankivell is, though, very much hoping Munster's season will extend to June 14, Johnny talking to him ahead of their quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban. And John O'Sullivan hears from Rónan Kelleher who was thrilled to receive that Lions call-up , but his focus for now is on Leinster's meeting with Scarlets. In soccer, we preview the Republic of Ireland's game away to Turkey this evening in the women's Nations League, and Gavin Cummiskey brings news of the men's squad named by Heimir Hallgrímsson for the friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg. In his mid-season report, Gavin also looks at Shamrock Rovers' campaign so far , the table-toppers driven by the era-defining trinity of Roberto Lopes, Dylan Watts and Graham Burke. In hurling, Joe Canning has his doubts about the wisdom of playing Sunday's Leinster final between Galway and Kilkenny in Croke Park, but that aside, 'if you're a Galway supporter, you'd be hopeful' , their win over Dublin in Parnell Park 'a big result on several levels'. But? 'This Kilkenny team, pound-for-pound, are still as good as any team out there,' he says. READ MORE Paul Keane talks to New York's Tipperary-born hurler Tom O'Meara in the build-up to tomorrow's Lory Meaghar Cup final against Cavan, while Ciarán Kirk has a word with Derry's Cormac O'Doherty ahead of their Christy Ring Cup final meeting with London. In her column, Sonia O'Sullivan writes about Achilles injuries, the ones 'that all athletes dread to even think about' . Just such a blight has Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen off-track at the moment, and cost Ciara Mageean an Olympic appearance last year, Sonia no stranger herself to the scourge. And in horse racing, after the case involving the Ted Walsh-trained Ta Na La, the horse suspended for breaching the 'non-trier' rules, Brian O'Connor believes it's time for the sport to 'professionalise' and ditch its 'outmoded stewarding model'. Otherwise, the betting public will remain less than reassured. TV Watch : Shane Lowry and Leona Maguire are back in action today in the second rounds of the Memorial (Sky Sports Golf, 4.30) and US Open (Sky Sports Mix, 5.0), Lowry in contention after opening with a 69 , but Maguire, who carded a 76, well off the pace in Wisconsin. Later, the Republic of Ireland's women are away to Turkey in the Nations League (RTÉ2, 6pm) and at 7.45, Bohemians host Derry City in the Premier Division (Virgin Media Two, 7.45).
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Lions match highlights on free-to-air TV this summer
The British and Irish Lions tour to Australia will be available to watch free-to-air on TV this summer – but for now only in Welsh. The Guardian has learned that the Lions have agreed a deal for a highlights package with Welsh language channel S4C, which will be available throughout the UK via S4C's iPlayer service and YouTube channel. S4C are understood to have bought highlights rights for all three Test matches and the Lions' six tour games, which will be broadcast in Welsh. S4C will also broadcast full live coverage of the Lions' send-off Test against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June, available in English and Welsh. The bespoke Welsh TV offering may raise eyebrows as there are just two Welshmen in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad – flanker Jac Morgan and scrum half Tomos Williams – but illustrates S4C's commitment to rugby that is not matched by other terrestrial broadcasters. The Welsh contingent of two is their lowest ever, meaning they join Ireland in 1993, and Scotland in 2009 and 2017, as the least represented countries on a Lions tour. Sky Sports have the exclusive live rights for their eighth successive Lions tour, and will also offer their own highlights show. The Lions remain hopeful of securing a free-to-air highlights deal in England, but have yet to do so three weeks before their first official tour game in Dublin. Channel 4 bought UK highlights rights for the Lions' previous tour to South Africa four years ago, but have not made an offer on this occasion, while ITV, BBC Sport and 5 have also yet to bid. The BBC have also failed to secure live radio rights this year, with the Lions partnering with TalkSport for the fourth successive tour. The BBC's priority this summer is the women's European Championship, as well as saving resources for next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, which will be an expensive undertaking. ITV also have live rights for the European Championship, Channel 4 are covering the men's under 21 European Championship and 5 have agreed to sub-license 23 matches from DAZN from the Club World Cup, so the terrestrial channels are committed elsewhere. The BBC have reduced their rugby coverage in recent years, with ITV securing the rights to all of England's Six Nations matches until 2030 in a joint deal signed earlier this year. As part of the new contract ITV will show 10 matches from each year's Six Nations to the BBC's five, which will feature Wales and Scotland's home fixtures, provided England are not involved. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion The Lions and S4C declined to comment.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lions consider golden point extra time proposal
The British and Irish Lions board is considering a proposal for sudden-death extra time if a deciding third Test this summer against Australia finishes in a Australia chief Phil Waugh revealed he suggested at meetings in London that 'golden point' extra time - which means the first team to score wins - should be played in such 2017, the Lions and New Zealand shared the series after the deciding third Test finished 15-15, with captain Sam Warburton saying it was "a bit of an anticlimax for the players".Former New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said the draw was "a bit like kissing your sister and no-one wants that"."We've had some really constructive conversations. That's got to go to the Lions board around whether it's a drawn series, or you decide it through golden point or extra time," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald., external"Our preference, if we put the fans at the centre of everything we're doing, I think that the familiarity that everyone has with 'golden point' and the interest for that in our market is a good guide."Obviously, we will be making sure both parties agree. But I think that if you're thinking about some fan engagement, that's certainly very appealing."For regular season games this year, Super Rugby Pacific brought in 'golden point',, external where if the teams are level at full-time then an 10 minutes of extra time is played, with a draw then declared if there is no winning April, Australian side Western Force and New Zealand's Hurricanes played out a thrilling 17-17 draw, with no score in extra Super Rugby Pacific knockout games, two 10-minute periods of standard extra time are the teams are still level, up to 10 minutes of golden point extra time are played, followed by a kicking competition if necessary. Confirmation of 20-minute red card Waugh confirmed both sides had agreed that the 20-minute red card will be used during the rule means the offending team can replace the red-carded player 20 minutes after being reduced to 14 year's Six Nations used 20-minute red cards for the first time after a trial at the Autumn Nations Cup in centre Garry Ringrose, who will tour Australia this summer with the Lions, was given a first-half 20-minute red card against the 20 minutes passed, Bundee Aki replaced Ringrose and played a key role in seeing the game home for Ireland."We've been very vocal in our support for the 20-minute red card," Waugh Lions will play a warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June before leaving for Australia, with the three-match Test series against the Wallabies starting in Brisbane on 19 July.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster hit by injuries as Henshaw out for season and Furlong to miss Scarlets clash
Leinster have clarified that the calf injury sustained by Tadhg Furlong was 'the other one' and not the calf/hamstring issue that sidelined him for a protracted period this season and saw him also miss four of Ireland's matches in the Six Nations Championship. There was a further addendum that the 32-year-old tighthead prop's place on the Lions tour to Australia was not under threat. Furlong, who was an unused replacement in Leinster's win over the Glasgow Warriors in their final URC regular-season game , isn't available for Saturday's URC last-eight clash with the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (3pm). He will be joined on the sidelines by Robbie Henshaw , who sustained a knee injury that will rule him out of the remainder of Leinster's season but wouldn't compromise his standby status were he to be called up to the Lions. The silver lining in the medical bulletin was that Jordan Larmour is on the threshold of a return to competitive action, having last played against Munster, a five-minute cameo on December 27th. There is no further update on Will Connors, Brian Deeny, James Culhane and Caelan Doris. READ MORE Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde provided a little background information. 'Yeah, he's [Furlong] okay. It just tightened up during the Glasgow game. He was on the bench, as a replacement. Thomas Clarkson, I thought he played exceptionally well in that game, so there was no need to risk Tadhg by sending him on. He's at a stage where we are just monitoring him to see how that develops.' On the Henshaw issue, McBryde said: 'You want to be able to pick from as many fit players as you can towards this end of the season. Everyone is picking up knocks, so the more people you can choose from, the better. 'Someone like Robbie is a quality player, high calibre, a big-game player, so [it] is not ideal. But it gives someone else an opportunity to step up. It is not just the playing but the training against quality opposition as well.' That'd just leave the 68-times capped All Black and perennial match of the match award winner, Jordie Barrett, to team with Garry Ringrose in the centre. Scarlets' Gareth Davies celebrates a try with team-mates against Leinster last month. Photograph: Andrew Dowling/Inpho The Scarlets handed Leinster only their second defeat (35-22) of the URC campaign in the last week in April, one that is still vivid in the memory for the players and coaching staff of the Irish province. McBryde wore the Scarlets' jersey with great pride for more than 10 years as a player, so knows all about the club's rugby ethos, and played alongside their coach, the former Lions and Wales scrumhalf Dwayne Peel. 'He hasn't had an easy job at the Scarlets. In fairness to Dwayne, he was great as a player, very experienced as well now as a coach. [ First Rugby World Club Cup to be held in 2028 Opens in new window ] 'You can see it in the way that they (the Scarlets) go about playing. It is great from a Welsh perspective to see a Welsh team making it through to the quarter final. It's been a tough season for everybody in Wales. From their perspective, it's great.' On Leinster's defeat in Parc y Scarlets, McBryde offered no excuses. 'There was a lot in that game, but I am not going to take it away from the Scarlets. They had a good game plan and stuck to it. They proved good value for it [the win]. They are currently four out of five [wins in matches] off the back of a successful South African trip. 'Their consistency in selection, they hardly make any changes if any at all to the starting 15, the starting pack in particular; they're cohesive, a tough nut to crack, they're comfortable with their game, the way they go about things. They are well coached, good players, a tough nut.' [ Gordon D'Arcy: Ditching Sevens is sad but sensible if it means IRFU will fix the system Opens in new window ] What does he ascribe to their recent upturn in performance levels? 'Sometimes things just go your way. That analogy with the stonecutter, it is not the 100th blow [that breaks the stone], it is the 99 that have gone previously. It is all the hard work that you put into a season. Sometimes things just happen off the back of hard work. 'In fairness to them, they're a cohesive bunch, they're obviously tight as a unit, tight as a team. It's a test that we failed a couple of weeks ago, first against the Scarlets and against Northampton. I think it's got to be something of a reset. This is knockout rugby; the stakes are a little bit higher. 'If we're good enough to win this week, we'll get an opportunity to play next week and if we're good enough the following week, we'll get to play again, but it's one game at a time and for all those reasons I said earlier about the Scarlets being cohesive etc, they'll be a tough nut and we're going to have to earn the right to be involved in the competition next week. It will be tough.'
