O’Connell Helps Launch Setanta’s World Cup Coverage
Paul O’Connell was on hand at Old Belvedere RFC in Dublin on Friday to help launch Setanta Sports’ coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which will see the Irish sports channel cover all 48 of the tournament’s matches live.
O’Connell, the Munster and Ireland lock who is Setanta’s Rugby Ambassador, was joined at the Anglesea Road venue by presenters Daire O’Brien and Paul Dempsey and rugby commentators Fred Cogley and Connor Morris to announce details of Setanta’s RWC coverage.
Setanta’s commentary and analysis team for the Rugby World Cup will also include Ciaran Fitzgerald, Matt Williams, Donal Lenihan, Liam Toland, Neil Francis, Mark Robson, Nigel Starmer Smith and Emmet Byrne.
Ciaran Fitzgerald, the former Ireland and Lions captain, and Matt Williams, who previously coached Leinster and Scotland, are new additions to the Setanta line-up.
Both will join Daire O’Brien and Paul Dempsey for studio discussion and match build-up alongside Setanta’s more regular rugby contributors which include Donal Lenihan, Liam Toland, Neil Francis and Emmet Byrne.
“We are delighted to have secured such an expert line-up for our coverage of the Rugby World Cup,” said Setanta Ireland CEO Niall Cogley.
“Rugby continues to grow in popularity in Ireland and we are looking forward to bringing top quality coverage of this world event to Irish sports fans. We will broadcast all 48 games live and have put a team in place that can give genuine insight into the tournament and make the Rugby World Cup more enjoyable for Setanta viewers.”
Coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup will begin on Setanta Sports on Friday, September 7 when host nation France face Argentina at the St. Denis Stadium. Ireland’s first game, which is against Namibia, will be broadcast live by Setanta on Sunday, September 9 on Setanta.
SETANTA SPORTS’ MATCH-BY-MATCH RWC COVERAGE:
Friday, September 7: France v Argentina, 8pm
Saturday, September 8: New Zealand v Italy, 12.45pm; Australia v Japan, 2.45pm; England v USA, 5pm
Sunday, September 9: Wales v Canada, 1pm; South Africa v Samoa, 3pm; Scotland v Portugal, 5pm; IRELAND v Namibia, 7pm
Tuesday, September 11: Argentina v Georgia, 7pm
Wednesday, September 12: USA v Tonga, 1pm; Japan v Fiji, 5pm; Italy v Romania, 7pm
Friday, September 14: England v South Africa, 8pm
Saturday, September 15: New Zealand v Portugal, 12pm; Wales v Australia, 2pm; IRELAND v Georgia, 8pm
Sunday, September 16: Fiji v Canada, 1pm; Samoa v Tonga, 3pm; France v Namibia, 8pm
Tuesday, September 18: Scotland v Romania, 8pm
Wednesday, September 19: Italy v Portugal, 7pm
Thursday, September 20: Wales v Japan, 8pm
Friday, September 21: France v IRELAND, 8pm
Saturday, September 22: South Africa v Tonga, 1pm; England v Samoa, 3pm; Argentina v Namibia, 8pm
Sunday, September 23: Australia v Fiji, 1.30pm; Scotland v New Zealand, 4pm
Tuesday, September 25: Canada v Japan, 5pm; Romanian v Portugal, 7pm
Wednesday, September 26: Georgia v Namibia, 5pm; Samoa v USA, 7pm
Friday, Septembr 28: England v Tonga, 8pm
Saturday, September 29: New Zealand v Romania, 12pm; Australia v Canada, 2pm; Wales v Fiji, 4pm; Scotland v Italy, 8pm
Sunday, September 30: France v Georgia, 2pm; IRELAND v Argentina, 4pm; South Africa v USA, 7pm
Saturday, October 6: Quarter-final 1 – Winner Pool B v Runners Up Pool A, 2pm; Quarter-final 2 – Winners Pool C v Runners Up Pool D, 8pm
Sunday, October 7: Quarter-final 3 – Winners Pool A v Runners Up Pool B, 2pm; Quarter-final 4 – Winners Pool D v Runners Up Pool C, 8pm
Saturday, October 13: Semi-final 1 – Winners QF1 v Winners QF2, 8pm
Sunday, October 14: Semi-final 2 – Winners QF3 v Winners QF4, 8pm
Friday, October 19: 3rd place play-off, 8pm
Satuday, October 20: World Cup final, 8pm