ESPN Rugby fixtures Revealed

ESPN has announced the next set of Aviva Premiership Rugby fixtures that it will televise live from 30^th November until the New Year.

On Friday 30^th November ESPN brings fans a top versus bottom clash as Sale Sharks host Northampton Saints at the recently built Salford City Stadium. This fixture is followed up on Saturday 1^st December when Bath Rugby travel to Welford Road to face the Leicester Tigers.

 The action continues into December as Bath Rugby again features on ESPN as they welcome Saracens on the 22^nd December. The next day (Sunday 23^rd December) sees London Wasps versus Sale Sharks in what is already looking like a key battle to avoid relegation. Champions Harlequins will then feature on Saturday 29^th December against rivals London Irish as they look for a win to cap their year of success. The following day, Saracens and Northampton continue their rivalry with England winger Chris Ashton set to feature against his former side at the MK Stadium in Milton Keynes. Friday 4^th January will then see Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers play each other in the first Aviva Premiership Rugby fixture of 2013.

ESPN’s live televised Aviva Premiership matches will be broadcast on-site at all the grounds from a custom built set, with all pre- and post-match discussion led by Mark Durden-Smith alongside analysts and former England internationals, Austin Healey and Ben Kay, as well as a special guest from the world of rugby every week. Commentary will come from Nick Mullins together with Healey and Kay. Sarra Elgan continues as ESPN’s rugby reporter, bringing all the news and player interviews from pitchside.

Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights, ESPN’s highlights programme, continues to air every Monday evening throughout the season. Hosted by ESPN’s rugby team, the weekly show will look back at the best of the weekend’s action and discuss the key talking points alongside a special studio guest.

ESPNscrum.com, ESPN’s rugby website, will continue to offer fans in the UK extensive online news, previews, results and video around both domestic and international rugby union. Its Aviva Premiership Rugby coverage includes weekly analysis from Healey and Kay plus video highlights.

Jeroen Oerlemans, VP & Channel Manager, ESPN, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “This Aviva Premiership Rugby season has continued where last season finished, with a high amount of drama and excitement. Champions Harlequins and rivals Saracens, Leicester and Northampton are locked in what is set to be a fierce battle to finish the regular season in first place. ESPN will continue to bring fans as close to the action as possible and give them the inside track on all the key news stories and action.”

October