RTE will show live coverage of at least six matches involving Irish provinces in the group stages of this season's European Cup. Given the extensive involvement of both Eurosport and BBC, as well as the coverage in France and Italy, this season's competition is thus guaranteed record audiences after the poorly supported, if financially remunerative, Sky years.
RTE have yet to formally sign an agreement with ERC Ltd - in a deal which is expected to be for four years, but the station's chief rugby producer, John D O'Brien, said yesterday they were likely to do so within the next few days.
"We have the go-ahead so basically we have it, and we're delighted to have it," admitted O'Brien. "We would hope to do a match every weekend that the European Cup is on."
That equates to coverage of a minimum of six group matches involving Irish provinces, aside from which RTE hope to be covering games in each of the knock-out rounds. RTE are already committed to covering other events on some of the European Cup weekends, exact dates for which have still to be finalised.
However, the likelihood is that none of the nine home games involving the three Irish provinces will clash if they pan out as follows: Leinster - v Leicester (Fri Nov 19th), v Stade Francais (Fri Dec 17th), v Glasgow Caledonians (Fri Jan 7th). Ulster - v Wasps (Fri Nov 26th), v Llanelli (Fri Dec 10th), v Bourgoin (Fri Jan 14th). Munster - v Pontypridd (Sat Nov 20th), v Colomiers (Sat Dec 18th), v Saracens (Sat Jan 8th).
RTE have not yet finalised has still to be finalised. Nevertheless, after the station's virtual non-coverage of the interpros, it does, as O'Brien stated, "add another brick in the wall. It means we've rugby all year round in what is an extraordinary season because of the World Cup."
Apart from the aforementioned coverage, RTE are also committed to covering six AIB league games as well as the Six Nations' Championship.
"This also means we'll have a fresh look at the interpros, if not this year then definitely from next year onwards," added O'Brien.
BBC's coverage will incorporate a live game every Saturday afternoon and the tries from all the other matches in their Grandstand roundup, as well as regionalised live games in Scotland and Wales on Friday nights.
Eurosport are entering the fray on an even grander scale, and will be covering two games live every weekend, as well as a sizeable compilation programme every Monday.
Meanwhile, the selection of the Irish and Ulster sides who will meet in next Sunday's final World Cup warm-up match at Queen's University (in aid of the IRFU's Omagh Fund) will be named today.
Ireland are likely to revert to the nucleus of their first-choice Test team which will open their World Cup campaign against the USA, although not in its entirety.
Paul Wallace successfully came through training yesterday and is available for selection, as is Jonathan Bell. Both have recovered from the knee injuries which ruled them out of contention for the Munster game last Friday.
Ireland will not make any of their eight Ulster squad members available to Ulster, although this gives Harry Williams the chance to play some of last season's European Cup heroes such as Stephen McKinty, Stuart Duncan and Derek Topping. "We're quite well covered in the backs as well, although we're a little stretched in the tight five," added Williams.
