Premier Sports’ live TV coverage of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup continues with eight games this weekend across Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa as all 16 teams compete in a highly-charged weekend of derby battles for rugby supporters to enjoy.
And Premier Sports team of 22 of rugby’s finest commentators, pundits, presenters and reporters will be with rugby fans every step of the way bringing 18 hours of live Premier Sports rugby coverage and analysis right across the rugby weekend.
- Fri May 14 Munster v Connacht: Graham Little, Stephen Ferris, Alan Quinlan, Darren Cave
- Fri May 14 Leinster v Ulster: Graham Little, Stephen Ferris, Alan Quinlan, Darren Cave
- Sat May 15 Lions v Stormers: Ross Harries, Bob Skinstad, Thinus Delport
- Sat May 15 Scarlets v Cardiff Blues: Ross Harries, Philippa Tuttiett, Tom Shanklin, Eddie Butler, Lauren Jenkins
- Sat May 15 Benetton v Zebre: Ryle Nugent Sat May 15 Edinburgh v Glasgow: Dougie Vipond, John Barclay, Jim Hamilton, Rory Hamilton, Jenny Drummond
- Sun May 16 Dragons v Ospreys: Ross Harries, Shane Williams, Sean Holley, Ashton Hewitt, Rhys Ap William, Owain Gwynedd Griffith
This weekend’s coverage of all EIGHT Rainbow Cup fixtures in Round Three of the competition are both live and exclusive in the UK on Premier Sports:
- Fri 14 May Munster v Connacht: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 5.30pm (KO 6pm UK)
- Fri 14 May Leinster v Ulster: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 8.05pm (KO 8.15pm)
- Sat 15 May Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 12 noon (KO 12.30pm)
- Sat 15 May Scarlets v Cardiff Blues: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 2.45pm (KO 3pm UK)
- Sat 15 May Benetton v Zebre: Live on FreeSports from 5.10pm (KO 5.15pm)
- Sat 15 May Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks : Live on Premier Sports 1 from 5.10pm (KO 5.15pm UK)
- Sat 15 May Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 7.20pm (KO 7.35pm)
- Sun 16 May Dragons v Ospreys: Live on Premier Sports 1 from 12.30pm (KO 1pm)
Munster top the Rainbow Cup competition alongside Benetton with 100% records from their opening two games with only Ulster and Zebre yet to get off the mark.
In the PRO14 Rainbow Cup South Africa, the two teams with 100% records Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks meet head-to-head on Saturday afternoon in Pretoria.
In Wales, it’s another set of highly-charged derbies in the East and West as the Scarlets look to back up home derby wins after a turbulent week with the sudden departure of their Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney.
They host Cardiff Blues at Parc y Scarlets (Sat May 15 Premier Sports 1 from 2.45pm), while on Sunday in the East (Premier Sports 1 from 12.30pm) the Dragons are home to the Ospreys with the visitors want to bounce back after their 22-6 loss to Scarlets last weekend.
Dragons have hit some eye-catching form recently winning four games since early March and currently sit in 3rd in the competition just three points behind Munster and Benetton.
After an explosive Scottish 1872 Cup battle last weekend, it’s Edinburgh’s turn to host Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening (Premier Sports 1 from 7.20pm), with the visitors boosted by a 29-19 win last weekend.
Tom Shanklin, the former Wales international Centre (70 caps, 20 tries) and British and Irish Lion who enjoyed an illustrious 13-year rugby career across club rugby at London Welsh, Saracens and Cardiff Blues is part of the Premier Sports team this weekend. He said there has been no shortage of passion or fire on the pitch so far:
“The Rainbow Cup is a great opportunity for younger players to get a chance to be blooded in big and intense professional derbies. Without the pressure of qualification into Europe and play-offs, opportunities have arisen that wouldn’t normally come about for some players to see what these big derby games are like.
“The weather played its part last weekend particularly in Wales with some horrific conditions, but we’ve seen some great derby action and I think a lot of the teams are using the opportunity to strengthen their squads with experience and there’s nothing wrong with that – there aren’t many opportunities normally in the season to do that.”
With 13 British and Irish Lions on show last weekend in the PRO14 he added that mixing up young players with some of the senior stars can only be a positive for the future.
“The Lions players still have to play rugby, still keep themselves sharp and it was great to see so many in action last weekend but inevitably there will be some rotations in coming weeks.
“The Rainbow Cup is a great opportunity to play different combinations - normally at this time teams are so intent on trying to climb up the table, with the win most important thing rather than what’s coming through. There’s not such massive pressure on teams right now, yes they want to win, but would you rather find a style of play that suits you, a game plan that inspires, gather some momentum ahead of a new season, to find out where your next 9 & 10, back row, second row combinations are coming from? So when next season comes, and you lose players to injury or international training blocks many of your players have more experience and can perform at that level.”
On the Welsh derbies starting with Scarlets v Cardiff Blues he added: “It’s been a messy few weeks for both teams but I think moving on from the ins and outs of any issues off the field, the right personnel have been recruited now and are in charge at each and that’s positive news for Scarlets and Cardiff Blues fans.
“Cardiff Blues defence has been pretty good all season, and it showed last week when they were down to 14 and 13 men how difficult it was for the Dragons to score against them. I think it will be a close game, but probably an away win for Cardiff Blues in the end.
On Dragons hosting Ospreys he said: “I’ve been really impressed with the Dragons, I saw a massive change when they played the two Scottish teams at the Principality Stadium, they were getting front foot ball, Sam Davies was making good decisions behind, and they are looking like a team that has found a style of game that suits. The Dragons at home should be full of confidence and rightly so. They should have won last week, they lost their grip on the game and discipline killed them a bit, but at home, I think momentum will be with the Dragons.”
On the South African dimension in the Rainbow Cup Tom Shanklin said: “I’ve enjoyed watching the four South African teams – there’s definitely some quality there and with the better weather we’ve seen some exciting rugby. It’s laying the foundation of what could be a new-look for the PRO14 with proper superstars on show; adding quality teams to improve competition is exciting, what’s needed and will be really positive.”
Premier Sports is host broadcaster of the Guinness PRO14 will bring every second of the Rainbow Cup action to its TV screens throughout May and June with the Rainbow Cup Final being held on June 19th.
Next weekend will see both South African teams in action on Saturday 22nd May as the Sharks take on the Stormers followed by the Lions against the Bulls. Both games will be live on Premier Sports.
I’ve been really impressed with the Dragons, I saw a massive change when they played the two Scottish teams at the Principality Stadium...
