Former All Back captain Sean Fitzpatrick will be part of the Sky Sports team providing coverage of Ireland’s rugby tour of New Zealand next month.  He was in Dublin on Monday to launch the stations coverage as part of it’s Summer of Sport.
The broadcaster is currently running a €1.2 million campaign around its HD offering for Irish customers.  This is bolstered by the addition of RTE2HD which will broadcast all the Irish games live from Euro 2012.
Sky Sports, which normally dominates sports broadcasting is limited this summer in that it does not have live rights to many of the major events including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Euro 2012, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot.
The rugby tour is one of its live highlights in the Irish market but it is relying on its position as a carrier of channels for the promotion.  Posters, TV and online advertising features Bernard Brogan and Henry Shefflin from GAA, Shay Given , Katie Taylor and Paralympian Mark Rohan.
Ireland’s first test against New Zealand is on June 9th while the second and third games take place on the 16th and 23rd, all with morning start times.
It will also carry live coverage from the IRB World Junior Championships in Salt Lake City from June 18th to 30th.