BT Sport have extended their deal with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) to broadcast every match of the Heineken Champions Cup for a further two seasons.
Under the agreement, BT will also televise select matches from European rugby’s second-tier competition, the Challenge Cup.
Despite BT’s recent merger with Eurosport, the Champions Cup will remain on BT channels with no Eurosport crossover.
However, free-to-air channels ITV, RTE and S4C have rights to select matches from the Champions Cup.
Discussing the extension, BT Sport’s rights director, Rachel Knight, said: “Today’s news means BT Sport remains the home of club rugby in the UK and Ireland, offering unrivalled coverage from the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, plus, multiple live matches every week from Gallagher Premiership Rugby.”
For the first time, the competition will include teams from outside Europe, with three South African teams competing in the 2022-23 season.
Commenting on BT’s announcement, ECPR chairman, Dominic McKay, stated: “Following on from what was a magnificent finals weekend in Marseille last May, we are delighted to continue to work with BT Sport, who have delivered incredible coverage of, and growing audiences for, our competitions.”
Alluding to the South African expansion, McKay added: “It is also significant we welcome three free-to-air partners on board in ITV, RTE and S4C, who will deliver for us in terms of viewership growth, innovation and profile in key markets as we welcome South African clubs into the EPCR fold.”
The season runs begins on 9 December, with the final taking place next May.