Rugby On TV: December 8-12

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

Thursday Dec 8:

Sky Sports 1: “TOTAL RUGBY”, 6.00pm – The IRB’s magazine show wraps up the latest action from around the globe. (Repeated at 11.00pm, on Friday at 06.00am and 10.30am)

Setanta Sports: “TOP 14 RUGBY: HIGHLIGHTS”, 7.30pm – All the tries, penalties and drop goals from last weekend’s series of matches in the French Top 14 championship, including league leaders’ Toulouse’s trip to mid-table Brive. (Repeated on Friday at 12.05am)

Sky Sports 2: “THE RUGBY CLUB”, 8.00pm – Simon Lazenby rounds up the latest rugby action from the domestic leagues and previews this weekend’s European action. (Repeated on Friday at 8.00am and 12.30pm and 3.00pm)

Setanta Sports: “SPORTS MONTHLY”, 9.30pm – Monthly sports round-up programme, which includes a look back at the draw for the inaugural AIB Cup competition at Lansdowne Road. (Repeated on Monday at 12.05am and 9.00pm

Friday Dec 9:

Setanta Sports: “IRB SEVENS 2005/06: DUBAI”, 11.20pm – Coverage from last weekend’s IRB Sevens tournament from the Dubai Exiles ground, where England retained the title. (Repeated at 7.00pm)

Setanta Sports: “TOP 14 RUGBY: BOURGOIN V CLERMONT”, 2.20pm – Coverage from last weekend’s Bourgoin v Clermont tie in the French Top 14 championship.

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY”, 7.30pm – Live coverage of the Pool 4 clash between Ulster and Saracens from Ravenhill (kick-off 7.30pm), followed by delayed coverage of the Pool 1 tie between Castres and Sale at Stade Pierre-Antoine.

Saturday Dec 10:

Setanta Sports: “CELTIC LEAGUE RUGBY”, 02.10am – Coverage of last weekend’s Celtic League derby meeting between Connacht and Leinster from the Sportsground in Galway. (Repeated at 06.10am)

Sky Sports 3: “LIVE HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY”, 12.30pm – Live coverage of the Pool 1 clash between the Newport-Gwent Dragons and Munster at the Rodney Parade (kick-off 1.00pm), followed by live action from the Pool 3 tie between Clermont-Auvergne and Stade Francais from the Stade Marcel Michelin (kick-off 3.00pm).

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY”, 5.00pm – Live coverage of the Pool 5 clash between Leinster and Bourgoin from the RDS (kick-off 5.15pm), followed by delayed coverage of the Pool 2 tie between Calvisano and the Cardiff Blues at the Centro Sportivo San Michele.

RTE Two: “LIVE HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY”, 5.05pm – Live coverage of Leinster’s must-win Pool 5 clash with Bourgoin from the RDS.

Setanta Sports: “IRB SEVENS 2005/06: GEORGE”, 5.15pm – Highlights from the first day of action at this weekend’s IRB Sevens tournament in George, South Africa. Sit tight for three hours of fast flowing rugby. (Repeated on Sunday at 12.10am and 10.55am)

Sunday Dec 11:

Sky Sports 2: “LIVE HEINEKEN CUP RUGBY”, 12.30pm – Live coverage of the Pool 6 clash between Llanelli Scarlets and Wasps at Stradey Park (kick-off 1.00pm), followed by live action from the Pool 3 tie between Leicester and the Ospreys from Welford Road (kick-off 3.00pm).

Setanta Sports: “IRB SEVENS 2005/06: GEORGE”, 4.30pm – Highlights from the second day of action at this weekend’s IRB Sevens tournament in George, South Africa. Two hours of uninterrupted coverage.

Sky Sports 3: “EUROPEAN RUGBY SPECIAL”, 8.00pm – Highlights of the weekend’s Heineken Cup games, including Llanelli Scarlets v Wasps and Leicester v the Ospreys. (Repeated on Monday on Sky Sports 2 at 01.00am)

Monday Dec 12:

Chorus Sports Channel: “THE RUGBY SHOW”, 8.00pm – Highlights of Saturday’s AIB League Division One games between Garryowen and Dungannon, and Cork Constitution and Clontarf. (Repeated at 10.00pm, on Tuesday at 7.00pm and 9.00pm)