Student game strikes television deal
Premier Sports TV has announced it will televise five matches from the Student Rugby League’s elite Super 8 competition.
The Super 8 competition was originally formed as the Super 6 in 2008 and features the best Student Rugby League sides in the country.
The broadcaster holds the exclusive rights to televise NRL matches in the UK and Premier Sports TV executive Richard Webb said he was delighted to further the channels commitment to rugby league.
“We are delighted to be able to offer for the first time a television platform for Super 8,” he said.
“Our channel broadcasts 5 live NRL games every week but this gives us the chance to raise the profile of the game back home.
“We are really excited to be able to showcase Rugby League at this level to the widest possible audience and I am sure fans will be amazed at the quality of sides competing.”
Matt Jeffery, Student Rugby League Manager, said he was confident that rugby league fans would enjoy watching the games.
“This is a tremendous boost for Student Rugby League and demonstrates the ambition we have for the Super 8 competition,” he said.
“We are very excited that matches from this elite competition will be showcased live and free-view and I’m sure that rugby league fans will enjoy what may well be their first taste of Student Rugby League.”
The first match due to be televised is the clash between Gloucestershire University and Edge Hill University at the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham on Wednesday, January 26.
A further four matches will be broadcast, including the play-off semi final at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and the Grand Final, which will take place at the home of Wakefield Wildcats on February 23
Coverage for the games, which take place on Wednesday evenings, will be presented by Ian Ramsdale.
Premier Sports TV can be found on Sky channel 433 and viewers with a Sky dish, decoder and card will be able to watch all of the games free of charge.
SRL SUPER 8 BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Gloucestershire University v Edge Hill University, Wednesday January 26, Prince of Wales Stadium, KO 7.30pm
Loughborough University v Gloucestershire University, Wednesday February 2, Loughborough University, KO 7.30pm
Northumbria University v University of Central Lancashire, Wednesday February 9, venue TBC, KO 7.30pm
Super 8 Play-off Semi Final, Wednesday February 16, Headingley Carnegie Stadium, KO 7.30pm
Super 8 Grand Final, Wednesday February 23, Rapid Solicitors Stadium, Wakefield, KO 7.30pm