The broadcaster will air a wide range of southern hemisphere rugby union in the UK

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Sky Sports has secured an extension to the broadcast rights to an assortment of rugby union games from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina. 

The agreement provides viewers with at least 150 fixtures a year headlined by the best club and international matches from the southern hemisphere.

The deal runs until 2025 and includes Home Nations Summer Tours, The Rugby Championship, Super Rugby & domestic competitions in South Africa & New Zealand: The Currie Cup and The National Provincial Championship respectively.  

In addition, Sky Sports customers will now be able to view a range of summer tours in 2022, including Australia vs. England, South Africa vs. Wales, New Zealand vs. Ireland and Argentina vs. Scotland.

This weekend, live on Sky Sports, there are four Super Rugby clashes, beginning with an all-Australian affair as table-toppers the Brumbies host the Reds in an 8.45am kick off on Friday. 

On Saturday, there are three Super Rugby offerings as Fijian Drua – one of two new franchises making their competition debut in 2022 - host Australia’s Western Force (3.35am kick off), Moana Pasifika – the other new franchise making their debut in Super Rugby this year – facing New Zealand’s Chiefs in a 6.05am kick off, plus Australian pair the Waratahs vs Rebels meeting each other in an 8.45am kick off.

Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports managing director said: “SANZAAR rugby [South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby] has been in Sky Sports’ DNA for almost 30 years and we’re pleased to continue our important and valued partnership with SANZAAR to give our customers the very best rugby the southern hemisphere has to offer.”

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris said: “We welcome Sky aboard once again as our broadcast partner in the UK and Ireland. Sky has been a broadcast partner of SANZAAR for a very long time and we have a very strong and professional relationship that has seen our tournaments delivered into this major rugby market. Super Rugby Pacific continues to be a world class tournament featuring some of the best players in the world. It is followed by The Rugby Championship when current world champions South Africa will battle the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas for southern hemisphere supremacy.”