BBC Secures International Rugby League Coverage

The BBC has announced a new agreement with the Rugby Football League to broadcast all four matches of the triangular tournament between England, France and Wales this autumn.

The tournament temporarily replaces the Four Nations, which has been postponed until after the 2013 World Cup. 

Sky, who recently signed a four-year broadcast extension for European rugby union rights, normally broadcasts the Tri and Four Nations Series – but declined to cover the triangular tournament, allowing Saturday afternoon rugby league to return to the BBC.

On Tuesday, BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater told the Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club, that the BBC had been trying to secure a competitive rights portfolio.

‘One thing is for sure, it is an unbelievably competitive environment,’ Slater told a packed room of industry executives. ‘We’ve been busy this year trying to ensure that we have a good rights portfolio, and have signed up some events for significant periods including Wimbledon, Six Nations, Commonwealth Games, as well as a two-cycle Olympic Games contract with the IOC until 2020.’

The tournament kicks off in Lens on 20th October, and will see each nation host one match in the series, culminating in a final at Salford City stadium on 11th November.

Every match will be broadcast on BBC One or BBC Two, with Clare Balding expected to host the coverage, in addition to being streamed on the BBC Sport website.