Sky snap up Heineken Cup

Sky Sports have added the Heineken Cup to their growing rugby portfolio after securing exclusive broadcasting rights to the sport's premier European competition.

The satellite broadcaster has agreed a three-year deal with European Rugby Cup in a move which concludes the BBC's involvement, landing live coverage of the tournament and its second tier competition, the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

Sky Sports have promised to cover at least three Heineken Cup matches each weekend, both semi-finals and the final, while they will also televise the latter stages of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

A highlights programme will round-up all the remaining action on Sky Sports - who already screen England's Autumn internationals, the Zurich Premiership, Tri-Nations and Super 12.

"This is an exciting year for rugby with the World Cup taking place in Australia and many of the game's biggest names will be returning to Europe at the end of November to take part in the Heineken Cup," ERC chairman Jean-Pierre Lux.

"Sky Sports has demonstrated to us their great enthusiasm for our tournaments and this new broadcast partnership is set to provide some wonderful entertainment for rugby fans throughout the UK and Ireland."

Sky Sports managing director Vic Wakeling added: "The Heineken Cup is the Champions League of rugby union, and we shall treat it as such in both coverage and promotion.

"Our commitment is for at least three live matches per weekend, but when we look at the fixtures for that first weekend, we find ourselves very tempted to do more."