Eimear Considine Joins TG4 Team For GUINNESS PRO14 Coverage
The new GUINNESS PRO14 season kicks off this weekend with live coverage on TG4. Building on the extensive coverage of previous seasons, the Irish language channel will broadcast 28 live matches as well as deferred coverage of a further nine games.
TG4 will also broadcast weekend highlights ensuring Irish audiences continue to experience all the best GUINNESS PRO14 action, in the build up to the 2019 Championship final, live from Celtic Park in Glasgow on Saturday, May 25.
There will be a particular focus on the games featuring Irish teams, with Leinster looking to consolidate their position after their historic PRO14 and Champions Cup double last year. But other teams have points to prove as well – Connacht’s fresh start under Andy Friend and Johann van Graan having his first pre-season with Munster, who were beaten semi-finalists last season.
Speaking today at the Sportsground in Galway at the launch of their coverage for the season, TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coistealbha, said: “TG4 are very proud of our association with this tournament which began in 2001. We look forward to bringing comprehensive coverage of the GUINNESS PRO14 to viewers and rugby fans all over Ireland on free-to-air television in the coming months with 28 live matches as well as highlights and deferred coverage each week.
“We are very pleased to have agreed a television rights deal with the PRO14 for the next three seasons and we look forward to seeing some great rugby matches over the coming months.”
Dermot Rigley, Commercial & Marketing Director with PRO14 Rugby, expressed his appreciation for the long-standing relationship with TG4, adding: “As a partner of the tournament, TG4 have been with us for so much of the journey from the Celtic League to the cross-hemisphere GUINNESS PRO14 we know today. Having free-to-air offering for our supporters is a key part of our broadcast strategy.
“And to have, like S4C, a native language broadcaster doing so in Ireland further illustrates the diversity of our Championship. We know TG4 have lots of new ideas and faces to bring to their coverage with Iris Productions and we can’t wait to see it all come to life.”
Iris Productions will provide coverage of the GUINNESS PRO14 season on TG4 for the first time this year. Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill returns as the anchor for the programmes and she will be joined by an expert panel of analysts including Ronann Loughney, Marcus Horan, Eoghan Ó Neachtain, Eamonn Molloy and new recruit Eimear Considine, the Ireland Sevens and 15s international who is back from a year out travelling and will play for Munster in the Women’s Interprovincials this weekend.
Coverage of the PRO14 season kicks off this weekend with two live matches on TG4. Leinster take on Cardiff Blues at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday (kick-off 7.35pm). The following day Connacht play host to the Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground (kick-off 3pm).
This season’s decider will be historic no matter which teams prevail, as it will take place for the first time at Celtic Park, the home of Celtic Football Club. For more information on all of TG4’s PRO14 coverage, check out www.tg4.ie/ga/sports/rugbai-beo/.