BBC Sport Rugby Union Roundup: European Rugby Bosses Consider ‘Destination’ Champions Cup Semi-Finals
European Rugby bosses are exploring the possibility of hosting ‘destination’ Champions Cup semi-finals, as discussions around a new television deal with TNT Sports for next season remain ongoing.
TNT, previously known as BT Sport, has been the main British broadcast partner for the European game’s premier competition, showing every Champions Cup match live this season. The network has also secured the rights to deliver all 21 Autumn Nations Series fixtures later this year, including England’s matches against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan.
However, negotiations between European Rugby and TNT over a new contract have stalled, leaving the future broadcasting of Champions Cup matches in the UK uncertain for the 2024/25 campaign.
The two semi-final matches last weekend, which saw Leinster and Toulouse progress to the final, took place at Croke Park in Dublin and Stadium de Toulouse respectively. This has drawn some criticism, as the teams contesting the final on May 25th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium both played their last-four encounters in their home cities.
In response, European Rugby is considering the possibility of hosting both Champions Cup semi-finals at the same neutral venue, creating a festival-like atmosphere around the event. MailSport understands that Benfica’s Estadio da Luz in Portugal made a bid to host the semi-finals this season, but the offer was declined, although similar proposals in the future may be met with a different outcome.
“European Rugby chairman Dominic McKay has expressed the governing body’s ambition to grow the Champions and Challenge Cups globally, with Bilbao set to host the 2026 finals and the potential for the showpiece events to be staged in the USA in the years to come.”
However, securing a new UK broadcast deal remains one of the most immediate priorities for McKay and European Rugby’s chief executive Jacques Raynaud, as discussions with TNT continue.
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