Sky Italia and ERC agree four year deal

Sky Italia and ERC, organisers of the Heineken Cup, have agreed a four-year deal through to 2010 / 2011 which will see the Italian broadcaster show live matches from the Pool and knock-out stages of Europe's premier club rugby tournament .

The deal announced today (Thursday, 6 December) by ERC, kicks-off this weekend with three matches being broadcast live by Sky Italia. On Saturday the clash of Italian champions Benetton Treviso with Newport Gwent Dragons will be shown live (14.30) and followed by Leicester Tigers v Toulouse (16.30). On Sunday Italian fans can watch Stade Francais Paris face Cardiff Blues (16.00).

The Italian broadcaster is the latest addition to the Heineken Cup's growing international broadcast platform, which has seen televised coverage increase by more than 50 countries / regions since last season, bringing the total number of countries / regions with access to Heineken Cup televised action to over 160 worldwide.

Countries now with access to coverage since last season include South Africa where rugby fans can follow the progress of John Smit and other Springboks in Europe on Supersport, while in Japan the J Sports channel will broadcast Heineken Cup action.

The European Challenge Cup tournament has also received additional television coverage for this season's campaign with two live games being broadcast each Pool weekend by Sky Sports, France 4 and Eurosport France.

Full details of the international broadcast network for the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup can be found on www.ercrugby.com/tvdetails