S4C has unveiled its live rugby coverage for the opening rounds of the new-look 12-club Magners League
The Channel’s flagship show Y Clwb Rygbi kicks off the season with live coverage of Blues v Edinburgh from the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 4 September.
The programme, which starts at the earlier than usual time of 5.55pm, will also include live coverage of the early stages of the historic match between Italian new boys Treviso and Scarlets. Highlights of the Italian side’s first Magners League match will be shown after the live TV match between Blues and Edinburgh.
The live S4C matches in the following weeks will be Leinster v Blues on Saturday, 11 September Blues v Dragons on Saturday, 18 September and the first live S4C match featuring an Italian side, Ospreys v Aironi on 25 September.
Most of the live matches will kick off at 6.30pm on Saturdays, with English subtitles available and English language commentary available on Sky.
Other matches to look out for will be the West Wales derby, Scarlets v Ospreys on 2 October, the double header weekend on 23 and 24 October featuring Dragons v Aironi and Glasgow v Ospreys and the Christmas time derbies which include Ospreys v Scarlets on Boxing Day and Scarlets v Dragons on New Year’s Day.
The Y Clwb Rygbi presentation team will be as strong as ever, featuring anchor presenter Gareth Roberts, touch-line reporter Sarra Elgan and former internationals Gwyn Jones, Brynmor Williams and Derwyn Jones among others.
Geraint Rowlands, S4C Editor Sport said: “The Magners League keeps developing and improving every year and we are delighted to be one of the league’s host broadcasters. Last season saw the successful introduction of the play-offs and the addition of two Italian clubs this year will add more spice. We are glad to unveil a cracking line-up of live matches for the early rounds as momentum builds for the 2010-2011 season.”
