Clubhouse chat - Premiership Rugby extends ITV rights deal

Premiership Rugby has agreed a two-year extension with ITV for a selection of free-to-air matches and a new highlights show.

The new deal will see ITV broadcast seven live games including the Premiership final in the 2024-25 season.

A rebranded highlights show called Gallagher Premiership Unleashed will be shown every Wednesday night.

In a major reshuffle, it will be presented by social media personalities instead of former players Topsy Ojo and David Flatman as it was last season.

Three YouTubers who go by the names of Ruckstar Lizzie, Squidge and Rugby Nause will take over hosting.

“Premiership Rugby is thrilled to extend our relationship with ITV and to continue to provide free-to-air access to Gallagher Premiership Rugby with seven blockbuster fixtures on top of the revamped weekly highlights show,” said Premiership Rugby chief executive officer Simon Massie-Taylor.

The first match to be shown on ITV will be Bath’s clash with Bristol on Saturday, 5 October, followed by Leicester against Gloucester on Sunday, 19 October.

Harlequins v Leicester will also be broadcast on Saturday, 28 December but the remaining free-to-air fixtures are yet to be confirmed.