Sky beat BT to rights for England’s next three tours

Sky Sports have won the rights to show England’s next three tours away to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand after winning a five year contract and beating off competition from BT Sport.

A report in the Telegraph states that Sky has blocked the latest and strongest attempt from new rival BT to get into international rugby after agreeing a new deal with SANZAR, who represent the three Southern Hemisphere nations.

Along with the rights to England’s tours to Australia in 2016 and South Africa in 2018, Sky have retained the rights to show the Rugby Championship, as well as any home matches of the SANZAR nations until 2021.

This means that any tours from any of the home nations, or France and Italy, to the Southern Hemisphere giants would be shown on Sky too. England’s likely trip to New Zealand in 2020 is also covered.

After losing the exclusive rights to European club football to BT next season in a reported £897 million deal, Sky has bounced back strongly and the deal with SANZAR is the latest in a line that has seen them secure the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, PGA Tour golf, Indian Premier League cricket, and Top 14 and Super League rugby.

However, BT Sport, who are keen to break into the international rugby game to go alongside their Aviva Premiership and European Rugby Champions Cup coverage, will likely come back with a strong challenge for the next rights to go on the line – England’s Autumn Internationals, including their World Cup warm-up matches next summer.

Are you happy that England’s June tours are set to remain on Sky?

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