Rugby On TV: November 16-20

Want a guide to all the oval ball action you can catch on television this week? Look no further – irishrugby.ie has the answers.

Wednesday Nov 16:

Sky Sports 1: “TOTAL RUGBY”, 6.30pm – The IRB’s magazine show wraps up the latest action from around the globe (Repeated on Wednesday at 12am on Sky Sports 3, on Thursday at 1.00pm on Sky Sports 3 and at 4.00pm on Sky Sports 2)

Thursday Nov 17:

Setanta Sports: “TOP 14 RUGBY: HIGHLIGHTS”, 7.30pm – Highlights from Round 10 of the Top 14 French Championship. Matches include Toulouse v Castres, Bourgoin v Stade Francais and Montpellier v Perpignan (Repeated on Thursday at 9.30pm)

Sky Sports 2: “THE RUGBY CLUB”, 10.45pm – Simon Lazenby and guests review the latest English and autumn international action (Repeated on Friday at 3.45am on Sky Sports 2, at 9.30am and 2.30pm on Sky Sports 3)

Friday Nov 18:

Chorus Sports Channel: “THE RUGBY SHOW”, 8.00pm – Coverage of the Schools (Under-18) Interprovincial clash between Connacht and Munster, played at the Sportsground (Repeated on Friday at 10.00pm, on Saturday at 7.00pm and 9.30pm)

Setanta Sports: “TOP 14: TOULOUSE V CASTRES”, 2.35pm – Star-studded Toulouse take on mid-table Castres. Full coverage of the Top 14 clash which was played on Friday, Nov 11

“LIVE FRENCH TOP 14: CLERMONT V TOULOUSE”, 7.29pm – Live coverage of the French championship clash from Stade Marcel Michelin. Trevor Brennan is injured for the fixture, but former Leinster back row Aiden McCullen should figure for Toulouse (Repeated on Saturday at 7.15pm)

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE RUGBY UNION”, 7.30pm – Live coverage of the Guinness Premiership match between Worcester Warriors and Bristol at the Sixways Stadium (kick-off 8.00pm). Former Leinster hooker Gavin Hickie, who has been capped by Ireland at Sevens and ‘A’ level, recently signed for Worcester (Repeated on Saturday at 4.00am on Sky Sports 3)

Saturday Nov 19:

RTE Two: “LIVE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION”, 2.00pm – Live coverage of two of today’s autumn internationals. First up, Ireland take on Australia at Lansdowne Road (kick-off 2.30pm), and at 5.00pm, Six Nations champions Wales challenge South Africa at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium

BBC One Northern Ireland: “LIVE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION”, 2.25pm – Live broadcast of Ireland v Australia from Lansdowne Road (included in Granstand)

BBC Two NI: “LIVE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION”, 4.45pm – Coverage of Wales v South Africa from the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 5.00pm)

Setanta Sports: “IRISH RUGBY WRITERS AWARDS 2005”, 1.10am – A 30-minute recap from the recent awards ceremony held in Dublin. Ireland’s rugby journalists and commentators award the best players, in various categories, for their performances over the past year

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE INTERNATIONAL RUGBY UNION”, 2.00pm – Live coverage of the autumn Test between England and New Zealand from Twickenham (kick-off 2.30pm). The all-conquering All Blacks beat Ireland 45-7 last Saturday and are on course for a “Grand Slam” tour of the home nations

Sunday Nov 20:

RTE Two: “AGAINST THE HEAD”, 5.00pm – Magazine show rounding up the latest action from the autumn internationals – including, this week, Ireland v Australia, England v New Zealand, Wales v South Africa and Scotland v Samoa

BBC Two NI: “RUGBY HIGHLIGHTS”, 3.50pm – Sunday Granstand reviews two of the weekend’s Test matches – England v New Zealand and Scotland v Samoa

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE RUGBY UNION”, 2.30pm – Live coverage of the Guinness Premiership match between Saracens and Newcastle Falcons at Vicarage Road (kick-off 3.00pm). Sarries’ Ireland hooker Shane Byrne will be otherwise occupied this weekend (Repeated on Monday at 1.00am on Sky Sports 3)