For the first time ever, all 15 games in the 2022 Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup will be available to view on Premier Sports and via streaming.
Premier Sports have once again confirmed they will broadcast eight Schools Senior Cup games, continuing a long-standing partnership, and they will be supplemented for the first time by a Leinster Rugby streaming service provided by VideosOnTheNet and showing the additional seven opening-round games.
The competition kicks off on Premier Sports this Sunday, 13 February, at Energia Park when reigning champions St Michael’s College take on Blackrock College.
The first game to be streamed by Leinster Rugby will be the meeting of Kilkenny College and Presentation College Bray on Monday, 14 February, from Energia Park.
All four quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final will be live and exclusive on Premier Sports, as Premier Sports owner Michael O’Rourke continues his long-standing relationship with the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup.
Leinster Rugby, in partnership with Videos On The Net, will be live streaming the additional seven games not covered by Premier Sports from the first round on www.irishrugbylive.ie, thus ensuring that all games will be available to those who cannot attend in person.
“The last six months or so have posed many obstacles not least accessibility to our games with no crowds allowed and thanks to our friends in Videos on the Net, and with the cooperation of the Leinster Rugby Schools Committee and indeed the competing schools, we were able to stream some games in the Junior Cup and this was a very worthwhile exercise,” said Philip Lawlor, Head of the Rugby Department at Leinster Rugby.
“While spectators are allowed in to watch games again, and we expect a huge crowd at all three first-round venues, we are still mindful that there are some people who cannot attend for Covid-19 or other reasons, and we feel that the streaming option will work for them, in addition to the continued support and excellent service provided by Premier Sports.”
“It is a first for us at the Leinster Rugby Branch, but we feel that the interest is there and we look forward to seeing how the games go on Leinster Rugby TV.”
“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Leinster Rugby and broadcast the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup this year,” added O’Rourke.
“The standard of the competition is incredibly high and we’re looking forward to showcasing the next generation of future Irish rugby stars.”
The seven games streamed live by Leinster Rugby, will be available on a subscription basis with each game costing €6.99 and the subscription can be purchased through the Videos on the Net platform, www.irishrugbylive.ie
This is the third announcement since the start of the year with a subscription element to streaming, following on from LOITV and the LGFA services pitching games at less than €10.
The schools competition in particular could be a nice revenue generator with past pupils always taking a keen interest in the tournament.
