It’s here! The eagerly-awaited Guinness PRO14 Championship returns tonight. Premier Sports the new home of all live Guinness PRO14 rugby action in the UK will bring rugby supporters the very best analysis, commentary and inside track from its 19-strong team.

Premier Sports talent team at this weekend’s games brings together some of UK rugby’s best-known and respected former players, commentators and presenters who will offer expert insight together with colourful, original and entertaining coverage for viewers of Premier Sports.

Premier Sports TV line-up for this weekend’s Host Broadcasts

Friday 31st August

Cardiff Blues v Leinster: Ross Harries, Lauren Jenkins, Wyn Gruffydd, Martyn Williams, Sam Warburton & Bernard Jackman

Ospreys v Edinburgh: Gethin Jones, Owain Gwynedd, Rory Hamilton, Sean Holley & Jim Hamilton

Saturday 1st September

Ulster v Scarlets: Graham Little, Mark Robson, Sean Holley & Andrew Trimble

Dragons v Benetton: Ross Harries, Lauren Jenkins, Eddie Butler, Martyn Williams and Richie Rees

All SEVEN games are covered on opening weekend in Italy, Ireland and Wales with plenty of eye-catching match-ups for supporters to enjoy with every game shown across Premier Sports 1 & 2 Channels and FreeSports: That’s more than 15 hours of live rugby coverage in just one weekend.

· Friday August 31st Cardiff Blues v Leinster, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 1

· Friday August 31st Ospreys v Edinburgh, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 2

· Friday August 31st Zebre v Southern Kings, kick off 7.35pm Live on FreeSports

· Sat 1st Sept Connacht v Glasgow, kick off 3pm Live on Premier Sports 1

· Sat 1st Sept Ulster v Scarlets, kick off 5.15pm Live on Premier Sports 1

· Sat 1st Sept Munster v Cheetahs, kick off 5.15pm Live on Premier Sports 2

· Sat 1st Sept Dragons v Benetton, kick off 7.35pm Live on Premier Sports 1

Highlights from the opening weekend of the Guinness PRO14 will be broadcast Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm on Premier Sports 1 with these repeated on FreeSports, kick starting the channels Monday Night Rugby coverage at 6.30PM. As with every week, Premier Sports will air a special Guinness PRO14 preview show on Wednesday night at 9PM ahead of the second round of fixtures. This ‘PRO14 Hour’ will be repeated on FreeSports at 10PM.

Premier Sports has awarded its multi-million pound contract to produce its live coverage of Guinness PRO14 to Sunset+Vine, one of rugby’s most experienced and creative independent production companies with a track record that includes seven years of Aviva Premiership coverage with both ESPN and for the past four years, BT Sport. Sunset+Vine’s three-year deal will see them produce more than 200 hours of live rugby coverage for Premier Sports each season including the annual showpiece final at Celtic Park in May 2019.

It’s all eyes on Wales for Guinness PRO14 opening night on Friday evening with a clash of the European Champions as Cardiff Blues, the European Challenge Cup winners host Leinster, the Champions Cup holders and PRO14 winners at Cardiff Arms Park. At the same time travelling West along the M4, Ospreys host Richard Cockerill’s Edinburgh Rugby at the formidable Liberty Stadium on opening night in the PRO14. Edinburgh reached the Guinness PRO14 Final Series for the first time last season and have lost just once on the opening weekend since 2013, however, they have not beaten the four-time champions in Swansea since 2009.

Martyn Williams, who will be part of the Premier Sports team at the Cardiff Arms Park and Rodney Parade this weekend, said: “Having played in the Guinness PRO14 at its inception as a player, it’s been fantastic to see the Championship grow year-on-year and become a truly world-class competition. It is a privilege to be part of Premier Sport inaugural season of coverage and I can’t wait for it all to begin.”

Mark Robson, who will lead presentation at Ulster v Scarlets on Saturday evening in Ulster said: “I’m extremely excited to be at the sharp end of a new beginning for the Guinness PRO14 with Premier Sports and the chance to be able to focus on my home province made the opportunity irresistible. The fact that Premier Sports is showing EVERY game live is an incredible development for the PRO14 and puts the league very firmly on the front foot. I just can’t wait to get started!”

Former Scottish international Jim Hamilton, who retired from the game in May 2017 after lifting three English Premiership titles and two European Cups as well as 63 caps for his country will be watching Ospreys v Edinburgh at the Liberty Stadium said: “I am really excited to be joining the Premier Sports team for this year’s Guinness PRO14 at an exciting time for our game. The Guinness PRO14 has some great teams and some of the world’s best rugby talent on show and now with a huge platform to showcase its talent through Premier Sports coverage.”

Richard Sweeney, Chief Executive of Premier Sports said: “We are broadcasting a Championship full of world-class players, with a team of talent that reflects the ambition and class of the Guinness PRO14. We are delighted and excited to have secured experts at the top of their game for one of the most exciting club rugby competitions in the world. This weekend is the start of a new era for Premier Sports and for our partners at PRO14 Rugby, with the chance for supporters to access the whole picture of rugby across the Championship. It’s a very exciting time.”

The Guinness PRO14 is proud to deliver some of the most exciting rugby in the club game thanks to the Championship’s naturally fast play and big breakdown battles with 861 tries scored in the ²⁰¹⁷⁄₁₈ season setting a new record and with the fastest rucks globally – 81% at 3 seconds or less.

Premier Sports has signed-up a 19 strong team for its PRO14 coverage this season:

Northern Ireland: Andrew Trimble, Mark Robson and Graham Little

Wales: Shane Williams, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams, Eddie Butler, Ross Harries, Sean Holley, Wyn Gruffydd and Lauren Jenkins.

Scotland: Jim Hamilton, Rory Lawson, Doddie Weir, Chris Paterson, Al Kellock, Dougie Vipond, Emma Dodds & Rory Hamilton.

Premier Sports, is the home of the Guinness PRO14 in the UK and will be showing all 152 games from the Guinness PRO14 this season. Rugby fans can subscribe on Sky or the Premier Sports Player for £9.99 per month with the first month free. Visit www.premierports.com to sign up to see all the live action. Customers on other TV services should contact their operator.