Ross Harries presented alongside Jonathan Davies, Martyn Williams and Gareth Thomas, with Bethan Clement
Guinness Pro12 Semi-Finals Munster v Ospreys - Andy Moore and Mark Jones, with Owain Gwynedd conducting interviews (as S4C) Glasgow Warriors v Ulster - Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable, with Gavin Andrews conducting interviews (as BBC Two Northern Ireland)
Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy Final Ystrad Rhondda v Penallta (Talbot Athletic Ground) - Bethan Clement (reporting)
Interview with Ken Owens from Carmarthen Athletic (with club president Delme Owens) - Ross Harries
Bethan Clement was in the studio to voice her news round-up, which included a clip of Gavin Henson being carried off injured during the first leg of the Bristol v Worcester Warriors English Championship Play-Off Final, with pictures captioned as being courtesy of Sky Sports. She also voiced the intros to both Pro12 Semi-Final edits. There was also a feature previewing Wales' chances in the Rugby World Cup with thoughts from Sir Clive Woodward, Matt Giteau, Brad Thorn and Bryan Habana from a Barbarians training camp, but the interviewer went uncredited.
The closing montage of the programme, which was the last Scrum V Sunday of the season, was a Welsh rugby review of the season voiced by Eddie Butler in his usual poetic style.
Stephen Watson presented from the studio alongside Andy Ward and Stephen Ferris
Commentators: Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable
Reporter: Gavin Andrews, with Andy Nicol providing pitchside analysis
BBC Alba: Calum Macaulay presented, Comms: Hugh Dan MacLennan & James Eddie BBC Alba Red button: Paul Mitchell & Scott Hastings Sky Sports: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes & Rory Lawson
BBC Alba: Calum Macaulay presented, Comms: Hugh Dan MacLennan & James Eddie BBC Alba Red button: Paul Mitchell & Scott Hastings Sky Sports: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes & Rory Lawson
The Pro 12 broadcast contracts start to seem a bit farcical at this point, with the match on 3 different broadcasters (OK technically 2, but still).
The Pro 12 broadcast contracts start to seem a bit farcical at this point, with the match on 3 different broadcasters (OK technically 2, but still).
How many will show the final?
I don't think it's farcical at all - for the three Play-Off matches, to me it seems only reasonable that Sky Sports should be allowed to show all three games albeit non-exclusively, as well as the national channels of the teams involved in each individual match. The Pro12 contract isn't so important to Sky that having exclusivity over the end-of-season matches would be of major benefit to them, and I think it's only fair to the other broadcasters to be able to show their teams' Play-Off fixtures.
As for the final, currently the Pro12 website only states that it will be on Sky Sports. Given that Glasgow and Munster made it to the final, I'm guessing BBC Alba and TG4 will also show the game. Neither BBC Two Wales and S4C are scheduled to be showing the final though, with no mentioned made of coverage on Scrum V Sunday, so I guess it might be the first time that the final will not be shown terrestrially in Wales.
I don't think it's farcical at all - for the three Play-Off matches, to me it seems only reasonable that Sky Sports should be allowed to show all three games albeit non-exclusively, as well as the national channels of the teams involved in each individual match. The Pro12 contract isn't so important to Sky that having exclusivity over the end-of-season matches would be of major benefit to them, and I think it's only fair to the other broadcasters to be able to show their teams' Play-Off fixtures.
As for the final, currently the Pro12 website states that it will be on Sky Sports but given that Glasgow and Munster made it to the final, I'm guessing BBC Alba and TG4 will also show the game. Neither BBC Two Wales and S4C are scheduled to be showing the final though, with no mentioned made of coverage on Scrum V Sunday, so I guess it might be the first time that the final will not be shown terrestrially in Wales.
It is daft to have these matches on potentially multiple BBC regions, rather than on the BBC nationwide. It's some of the little rugby remaining on terrestrial TV so they might as well promote it to a wider audience.
It is daft to have these matches on potentially multiple BBC regions, rather than on the BBC nationwide. It's some of the little rugby remaining on terrestrial TV so they might as well promote it to a wider audience.
I wouldn't be against the BBC showing the Pro12 Play-Offs across the network nationally, but would they have the rights to do so? While Pro12 rights won't be that valuable to Sky Sports and I dare say they don't mind sharing games with regional channels, having the BBC televising these games UK-wide might be a step too far as far as their advertisers are concerned. It's also worth pointing out that the BBC regions themselves don't have rights to all games - S4C and TG4 showed the Munster v Ospreys games at the weekend, and I dare say BBC Two Wales would only be able to show one of the games potentially showing the Welsh regions.
Also, having a uniform network team across the BBC's Pro12 Play-Offs coverage would inevitably see some of the manistays of the BBC Two Wales/Two Northern Ireland/Alba coverage teams missing out - I don't think that would really be that fair or merited, especially if the Beeb were to parachute people in who don't regularly cover the league. I'd rather the BBC kept the things the way they are - although I'd hope they'd put as many games behind the Red Button as possible in order for viewers from across the UK of platforms like Freeview to be able to watch them.
Interesting to note that Mark Nicholas was absent from tonight's Cricket on 5 programme - it was announced at the start that he had gone to a wedding. Michael Vaughan hosted in his stead, with Simon Hughes doing the interview at the end.
This was all very similar to (what I believe is) the only other time that Nicholas has been absent from the programme over the last ten years - that being the Headingley test of 2012, when Nicholas was hosting the Channel 9 coverage of the London Olympics. As it was for a whole test, Alec Stewart deputised as an extra commentator - whereas today they coped with just the three.
IBF World Welterweight Championship: Kell Brook v Frankie Gavin
Johnny Nelson presented from the O2 Arena, London alongside Paulie Malignaggi, Carl Froch and Glenn McCrory
Commentators: Nick Halling, Jim Watt and Paulie Malignaggi
Reporter: Ed Robinson, with Paul Smith Jr providing ringside analysis
Undercard commentators:
Evgeny Gradovich v Lee Selby, Kevin Mitchell v Jorge Linares and Anthony Joshua v Kevin Johnson - Nick Halling and Jim Watt Nathan Cleverly v Tomas Man and John Ryder v Nick Blackwell - Adam Smith and Paulie Malignaggi Scott Cardle v Craig Evans - Adam Smith and Glenn McCrory Dave Ryan v John Wayne Hibbert - Adam Smith and Paul Smith Jr
Comments
Ulster Rugby Live: Glasgow Warriors v Ulster
Stephen Watson presented from the studio alongside Andy Ward and Stephen Ferris
Commentators: Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable
Reporter: Gavin Andrews, with Andy Nicol providing pitchside analysis
Saturday 23rd May - S4C
Clwb Rygbi: Munster v Ospreys
Gareth Roberts presented from the Scrum V studio alongside Dafydd Jones and Deiniol Jones
Commentators: Gareth Charles and Rhys Patchell
Red Button commentators: Andy Moore and Mark Jones (commentary in English)
Reporter: Owain Gwynedd
Scrum V Sunday
Ross Harries presented alongside Jonathan Davies, Martyn Williams and Gareth Thomas, with Bethan Clement
Guinness Pro12 Semi-Finals
Munster v Ospreys - Andy Moore and Mark Jones, with Owain Gwynedd conducting interviews (as S4C)
Glasgow Warriors v Ulster - Jim Neilly and Ryan Constable, with Gavin Andrews conducting interviews (as BBC Two Northern Ireland)
Glamorgan County Silver Ball Trophy Final
Ystrad Rhondda v Penallta (Talbot Athletic Ground) - Bethan Clement (reporting)
Interview with Ken Owens from Carmarthen Athletic (with club president Delme Owens) - Ross Harries
Bethan Clement was in the studio to voice her news round-up, which included a clip of Gavin Henson being carried off injured during the first leg of the Bristol v Worcester Warriors English Championship Play-Off Final, with pictures captioned as being courtesy of Sky Sports. She also voiced the intros to both Pro12 Semi-Final edits. There was also a feature previewing Wales' chances in the Rugby World Cup with thoughts from Sir Clive Woodward, Matt Giteau, Brad Thorn and Bryan Habana from a Barbarians training camp, but the interviewer went uncredited.
The closing montage of the programme, which was the last Scrum V Sunday of the season, was a Welsh rugby review of the season voiced by Eddie Butler in his usual poetic style.
BBC Alba: Calum Macaulay presented, Comms: Hugh Dan MacLennan & James Eddie
BBC Alba Red button: Paul Mitchell & Scott Hastings
Sky Sports: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes & Rory Lawson
The Pro 12 broadcast contracts start to seem a bit farcical at this point, with the match on 3 different broadcasters (OK technically 2, but still).
How many will show the final?
I don't think it's farcical at all - for the three Play-Off matches, to me it seems only reasonable that Sky Sports should be allowed to show all three games albeit non-exclusively, as well as the national channels of the teams involved in each individual match. The Pro12 contract isn't so important to Sky that having exclusivity over the end-of-season matches would be of major benefit to them, and I think it's only fair to the other broadcasters to be able to show their teams' Play-Off fixtures.
As for the final, currently the Pro12 website only states that it will be on Sky Sports. Given that Glasgow and Munster made it to the final, I'm guessing BBC Alba and TG4 will also show the game. Neither BBC Two Wales and S4C are scheduled to be showing the final though, with no mentioned made of coverage on Scrum V Sunday, so I guess it might be the first time that the final will not be shown terrestrially in Wales.
It is daft to have these matches on potentially multiple BBC regions, rather than on the BBC nationwide. It's some of the little rugby remaining on terrestrial TV so they might as well promote it to a wider audience.
I wouldn't be against the BBC showing the Pro12 Play-Offs across the network nationally, but would they have the rights to do so? While Pro12 rights won't be that valuable to Sky Sports and I dare say they don't mind sharing games with regional channels, having the BBC televising these games UK-wide might be a step too far as far as their advertisers are concerned. It's also worth pointing out that the BBC regions themselves don't have rights to all games - S4C and TG4 showed the Munster v Ospreys games at the weekend, and I dare say BBC Two Wales would only be able to show one of the games potentially showing the Welsh regions.
Also, having a uniform network team across the BBC's Pro12 Play-Offs coverage would inevitably see some of the manistays of the BBC Two Wales/Two Northern Ireland/Alba coverage teams missing out - I don't think that would really be that fair or merited, especially if the Beeb were to parachute people in who don't regularly cover the league. I'd rather the BBC kept the things the way they are - although I'd hope they'd put as many games behind the Red Button as possible in order for viewers from across the UK of platforms like Freeview to be able to watch them.
Final 2nd Leg - Worcester Warriors v Bristol
James Gemmell at Sixways with Mike Friday and Martin Haag.
Commentators: Johnnie Hammond, Dewi Morris & Pat Sanderson
Reporter: Bill Latham
Ireland XV v Barbarians
Rupert Cox in the studio with Shane Horgan and Thinus Delport.
Commentators: Mark Robson & Alan Quinlan
Quarter-Final - Stade Français v Racing Métro
James Gemmell in the studio with Lee Byrne and Ollie Phillips.
Commentators: Johnnie Hammond & Hugo Southwell
It also appears that all of the summer World Cup warm-up matches will be on Sky Sports.
Final - Bath v Saracens
Craig Doyle at Twickenham with Lawrence Dallaglio, Mike Tindall and Brian O'Driscoll.
Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey
Reporters: Martin Bayfield & Sarra Elgan
Matt Dawson and Mark Cueto also doing a piece to camera.
Quarter-Final - Toulouse v Oyonnax
Rupert Cox in the studio with Tom May.
Commentators: Martin Gillingham & Dewi Morris
thanks
Final - Glasgow Warriors v Munster
Alex Payne at the Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill with Will Greenwood, Scott Quinnell, Rory Lawson and Alan Quinlan.
Commentators: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes & Ieuan Evans
BBC 2 Scotland
Dougie Vipond presenting pitchside with Andy Nicol.
Comms: Hugh Dan MacLennan and Andy Nicol
This coverage is also available south of the border via the BBC Red Button.
Here are the final totals of matches called by individuals on BT Sport's coverage of Aviva Premiership Rugby this season:
Main Commentators:
Nick Mullins - 36 (no change on last season)
Alastair Eykyn - 33 (n/c)
Co-Commentators (forwards):
Ben Kay - 40 (-2)
Lawrence Dallaglio - 20 (n/c)
David Flatman - 5 (+2)
Nick Kennedy - 3 (+2)
(no forward used) - 1 (n/c)
Co-Commentators (backs):
Austin Healey - 38 (-5)
Ugo Monye - 11 (+11)
Matt Dawson - 10 (-12)
Paul Grayson - 7 (+4)
Andy Goode - 1 (+1)
Matt Perry - 1 (n/c)
James Simpson-Daniel - 1 (+1)
Most Common Combinations (who have called at least 5 matches):
=1. Mullins/Dallaglio/Healey - 9
=1. Mullins/Kay/Healey - 9
3. Eykyn/Kay/Healey - 7
=4. Eykyn/Dallaglio/Healey - 6
=4. Eykyn/Kay/Monye - 6
6. Eykyn/Kay/Dawson - 5
Full details of commentary teams on every match are available in spreadsheet form here.
This was all very similar to (what I believe is) the only other time that Nicholas has been absent from the programme over the last ten years - that being the Headingley test of 2012, when Nicholas was hosting the Channel 9 coverage of the London Olympics. As it was for a whole test, Alec Stewart deputised as an extra commentator - whereas today they coped with just the three.
England XV v Barbarians
Alex Payne at Twickenham with Mike Tindall, Michael Lynagh and Will Greenwood.
Commentators: Miles Harrison & Stuart Barnes
Reporter: Graham Simmonds
Playoff Final - Gloucester v Bordeaux-Bègles
James Gemmell at Sixways with Phil Vickery and Hugo Southwell.
Commentators: Mark Robson & Ieuan Evans
WBC Silver Welterweight Championship: Amir Khan v Chris Algieri
Jim Rosenthal presented from the studio alongside Richie Woodhall
Commentators: John Rawling and Barry Jones
Reporter: Jimmy Smith (as Spike TV's Premier Boxing Champions)
IBF World Welterweight Championship: Kell Brook v Frankie Gavin
Johnny Nelson presented from the O2 Arena, London alongside Paulie Malignaggi, Carl Froch and Glenn McCrory
Commentators: Nick Halling, Jim Watt and Paulie Malignaggi
Reporter: Ed Robinson, with Paul Smith Jr providing ringside analysis
Undercard commentators:
Evgeny Gradovich v Lee Selby, Kevin Mitchell v Jorge Linares and Anthony Joshua v Kevin Johnson - Nick Halling and Jim Watt
Nathan Cleverly v Tomas Man and John Ryder v Nick Blackwell - Adam Smith and Paulie Malignaggi
Scott Cardle v Craig Evans - Adam Smith and Glenn McCrory
Dave Ryan v John Wayne Hibbert - Adam Smith and Paul Smith Jr