FloRugby gains broadcast rights for the Heineken Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup
AUSTIN, Texas — December 05, 2018 — Today, FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, announced a multiyear partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) to provide live and on-demand coverage of EPCR matches exclusively in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on FloRugby.com. The deal was agreed to in collaboration with RDA.
FloRugby adds more than 70 live matches per season with this partnership, which includes the Heineken Challenge Cup and all knock-out matches of the European Rugby Challenge Cup through the 2021-22 season. Fans will also be able to watch all of the remaining Heineken Champions Cup matches for the 2018-19 season, beginning Friday, Dec. 7, 2018.
Through this partnership, FloRugby has also expanded its coverage of the Guinness PRO14 to exclusively stream all matches to the MENA region, which includes Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen until the end of the 2020-21 season.
Upcoming matches available on FloRugby.com include:
- Round 3:
- Dec. 7, 2018
- Edinburgh Rugby vs Newcastle Falcons
- Scarlets vs Ulster Rugby
- Dec. 8, 2018
- Exeter Chiefs vs Gloucester Rugby
- Lyon vs Glasgow Warriors
- Bath Rugby vs Leinster Rugby
- RC Toulon vs Montpellier
- Wasps vs Toulouse
- Dec. 9, 2018
- Munster Rugby vs Castres Olympique
- Saracens vs Cardiff Blues
- Racing 92 vs Leicester Tigers
- Dec. 7, 2018
- Round 4:
- Dec. 14, 2018
- Gloucester Rugby vs Exeter Chiefs
- Ulster Rugby vs Scarlets
- Dec. 15, 2018
- Glasgow Warriors vs Lyon
- Cardiff Blues vs Saracens
- Toulouse vs Wasps
- Castres Olympique vs Munster Rugby
- Leinster Rugby vs Bath Rugby
- Dec. 16, 2018
- Leicester Tigers vs Racing 92
- Montpellier vs RC Toulon
- Newcastle Falcons vs Edinburgh Rugby
- Dec. 14, 2018
“We are delighted to have concluded this agreement with the innovative OTT platform, FloSports,” EPCR’s Director, General Vincent Gaillard said. “This is great news for rugby fans across the Middle East and North Africa. The Heineken Champions Cup continues to go from strength to strength on the field where it is undoubtedly The One to Win in club rugby. We are also seeing the benefits from a mix of traditional broadcasters and new digital players across the world who support our progressive strategy.”
“We’re excited to bring FloRugby to a new market by partnering with the pinnacle of European club rugby in the EPCR,” FloSports SVP, Global Rights Acquisition & Strategy Phil Wendler said. “Collaborating with RDA to deliver elite rugby to fans around the world has been a great experience thus far, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them and the EPCR in MENA .”
Currently, FloRugby’s coverage includes world-class events such as the Women’s HSBC World Sevens Series, USA Eagles Internationals, Premiership Rugby Cup, Americas Rugby Championship, The Rugby Weekend, the Autumn Internationals, Top 14, Pro D2, elite U.S. club, college and high school rugby competitions, and more.
To access live and on-demand coverage of all Heineken Champions Cup, knockout rounds of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, Guinness PRO14 and other premier rugby competitions, visit FloRugby.com to become a monthly or annual PRO subscriber. Either subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network. Watch the events across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku, or Apple TV 4.
Streaming more than 10,000 live competitions per year, FloSports continues to emerge as the global leader in live, in-depth, and on-demand digital coverage for passionate sports fans.
For more information, visit FloRugby.com.
About FloSports:
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Rugby, Basketball, MMA, Football, Wrestling, Track, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.
About the Heineken Champions Cup:
The Heineken Champions Cup is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) and is widely recognised as ‘The One to Win’ in club rugby. Clubs qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup via their final positions in their respective domestic leagues (Gallagher Premiership, Top 14, and Guinness PRO14) or via winning the European Rugby Challenge Cup. 2018/19 Finals weekend for both tournaments will take place on May 10-11 2019 at St James’ Park, Newcastle. During the 18/19 campaign, the aggregate attendance for the Heineken Champions Cup will pass 20 million since it was launched in 1995.
About European Professional Club Rugby:
European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the organiser of the Heineken Champions Cup, the Challenge Cup and the Continental Shield. Established in 2014 with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPCR has the following shareholders: Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR), Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Scottish Rugby, Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premiership Rugby (PRL) and Pro Rugby Wales. The Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments feature clubs which have qualified on merit from their respective domestic leagues – Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the TOP 14 and the Guinness PRO14 – as well as from the Continental Shield.