The EBU and Rugby Europe have reached agreement to cover the Olympic sport of Rugby Sevens in selected European territories.
The deal between the EBU and Rugby Europe, the continental governing body for Rugby Union, enables EBU Members to televise both the Rugby Europe Men’s and Women’s Championship Series in 2023 and 2024.
The initial agreement grants Eurovision Sport exclusive live rights for EBU Members in the territories of the Czech Republic (CT), Lithuania (LRT), Poland (TVP) and Spain (RTVE), with an option to include more members from additional territories.
Members will base their coverage on their national teams and will exploit the content on both their linear and non-linear platforms. Coverage will include news clips distribution of the events via Eurovision Sports News, while the events will also receive promotion on both members’ and Rugby Europe’s social media platforms.
Commenting on the development, head of summer sports at Eurovision Sport Andreas Aristodemou said: “We are thrilled to enrich our expanding portfolio with the Rugby Europe Sevens events. These national team events are perfectly aligned with our Members’ DNA of supporting Olympic sports at the highest possible level and we are proud to support Rugby Sevens for the next two years”.
Florent Marty, CEO of Rugby Europe, added: “We are delighted to partner with EBU for the promotion of our Sevens European Championship Series. Thanks to their expertise in top-level sports events and their impressive broadcaster network and membership, this will be a huge opportunity to promote Rugby Sevens and to expose the European talents and national teams to sports fans, especially ahead the 2024 Olympic Games”.
Rugby Sevens, a fast-paced, seven-a-side version of traditional Rugby Union, dates back to the late 19th century. However, the sport only made its first appearance on the Olympic programme in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, quickly establishing itself as a favourite with a younger and more diverse demographic among Olympic fans.
Eurovision Sport’s involvement with Rugby Sevens doesn’t end with the European Championship Series. This year also features an Olympic Qualifier event for next year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in collaboration with the Krakow 2023 European Games (21 June – 2 July, 2023), in which Rugby Sevens will be making its first-ever appearance.
Last year, the EBU finalised a partnership with the European Olympic Committees to offer its expertise in media rights distribution for the European Games of 2023 and 2027.
