Sky Sports have agreed a fresh broadcast deal with SANZAAR in the UK, which will see Southern Hemisphere rugby remain a key part of their portfolio through to 2030.
As part of the renewed deal, Sky Sports will have exclusive rights to the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series between the Springboks and All Blacks, which gets underway on Friday (August 7). Sky Sports will also broadcast the Springboks’ return tour of New Zealand in 2030.
This is the latest partnership between Sky Sports and SANZAAR, with the broadcaster airing Southern Hemisphere rugby for the past 25 years.
Sky Sports and SANZAAR confirm fresh broadcast deal until 2030
The new agreement will also see the broadcaster air the 2027, 2028 and 2029 editions of the Rugby Championship, as well as home Tests involving the Wallabies and Argentina across August and September this year. This included the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks.
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Elsewhere, Sky Sports have also retained the rights to Super Rugby Pacific.
Commenting on the fresh deal, SANZAAR CEO, Brendan Morris, said: “SANZAAR is delighted to retain Sky Sports as a rights holder broadcaster in the UK for the next iteration of our international rugby tournaments.
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“We have partnered with Sky Sports for over 25 years, and rugby fans in the UK will continue to enjoy world-class action from Super Rugby Pacific, The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup and additional tour matches, including this year’s series between South Africa and New Zealand.”
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On top of exclusive broadcast rights, Sky will also produce clips and highlights across its digital and social platforms.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series gets underway
News of the fresh deal between Sky Sports and SANZAAR comes just days before the start of the Greatest Rivalry series, which kicks off on Friday night when the All Blacks take on the Stormers.
After that, Dave Rennie’s side face the Sharks and the Bulls, before taking on the Springboks in Test one. They then face the Lions in the final mid-week match, before continuing the Test series against Rassie Erasmus’ side.
The series will then head Stateside, with Test four scheduled to be played in Baltimore.