Think it would dilute the thread, would quiet this bit down a lot.

Hence why I said technically Hammond is #3, but just always hear Gillingham on better games in European Cup Etc. Obviously granted Hammond gets a fly away summer tour.

Call it evens?

Southwell pretty much will be consigned to Top 14, Dewi Morris heard on more wide variety of things, rugby club et al.

I think it's fairly clear that after Miles Harrison, Johnnie Hammond and Mark Robson are very much Sky Sports' #2 and #3 commentators because as you say not only do they do the summer tours but also other on-site matches both domestically and in Europe. I'd say working on live games on-site almost always trumps off-tubing on continental games in terms of it being deemed to have seniority.

Out of interest, is Bob Symonds still involved in Sky Sports' rugby union coverage? I rarely watch their coverage but I know Bob was a regular voice on their Heineken Cup coverage in the past. With fewer games from Europe on Sky but with the addition of the Pro12 and Top 14 it'll be interesting to hear if he's involved in their coverage of either competition.


Must admit Darren that I agree with Pakokelso on this one, I'd rather keep the general rugby union information, discussion and coverage details in this thread. Although it might be worth starting up a specific 2015 Rugby World Cup thread for coverage details of that next year. That being said, you're entitled to make that point and I certainly didn't view your suggestion as being critical or rude.

Sunday 7th September - S4C

Clwb Rygbi: Zebre v Cardiff Blues

Gareth Roberts presented from the studio alongside Ken Owens and Deiniol Jones

Commentators: Gareth Charles and Gwyn Jones

Red button commentators: Nick Webb and Dafydd James in English

Reporter: Dot Davies

They've dropped the 'Y' from Clwb Rygbi's title!

Sunday 7th September - BBC Two Wales

Scrum V Sunday

Ross Harries presented alongside Jonathan Davies, Robert Jones and Gareth Thomas, with Bethan Clement

Guinness Pro12
Scarlets v Ulster - Andy Moore and Sean Holley
Connacht v Newport Gwent Dragons - Phil Steele
Zebre v Cardiff Blues - Nick Webb and Dafydd James (as S4C Red Button)
Ospreys v Treviso - Gareth Charles and Jonathan Davies

British & Irish Cup Welsh Qualifier Round 2
Pontypridd v Cardiff - Bethan Clement (voiceover)

SWALEC League Division Three West B
St. David's v Laugharne - Rick O'Shea (reporting as part of a feature on SWALEC League restructuring)

There's been a slight change of format to Scrum V Sunday this season, with Radio Cymru's Camp Lawn presenter Bethan Clement joining the panel in the studio, standing by a video screen (Sky Sports Football First-style) to preside over coverage of non-Pro12 club rugby action in the final third of the programme.

I'm not sure who produced the commentary for the Scarlets v Ulster highlights edit, given that there was a co-commentator I'd think someone must have used it live but it didn't come from either Sky Sports or Radio Wales. Ross Harries voiced parts of the Ospreys highlights edit and he also introduced a short feature about Adam Jones on his summer departure from the Ospreys and subsequent move to Cardiff Blues and an interview with Owen Williams' father and brother Huw and Gavin and Blues teammate Macauley Cook about the progress Owen is making in recovering from the spinal injury he suffered when playing sevens in the summer.

I should add, neither was I.

I'll submit to Johnny Hammond pressure too.

Bob Symonds was still on the odd game last season on sky, not heard him yet this season.

Sunday 14 September

Kilkenny v Limerick and Cork v Kilkenny on RTE Two- Joanne Cantwell and Michael Lyster present coverage of the respective All-Ireland Intermediate and Senior Camogie finals from Croke Park. Marty Morrissey and Cyril Farrell commentate on the intermediate clash, and Ger Canning and Cyril Farrell on the senior match.

The Listowel Races Harvest Festival on TG4- Presented by Seán Bán Breathnach, with commentary by Mícheál Ó Sé, analysis from Mánus Ó Conghaile, and reports by Sláine Ní Chathalláin and Mick Ó hUallacháin.

For S4C's delayed showings on games from Saturday that they'll now have on Monday nights, it was as simple as just having Cennydd Davies and Deiniol Jones on commentary (I didn't check who did the english language one), with them starting just as the Scarlets came off, and Cennydd just saying "join us next week for when Leinster play the Scarlets, Goodbye for now" about 10 seconds after the referee blew the final whistle!

That surely explains the above - I'd forgotten that S4C were providing delayed coverage of Pro12 matches involving the Welsh regions that are live on Sky Sports and didn't know that they were carrying an as-live English language commentary option on the Red Button. So the commentary used by Scrum V Sunday on the Scarlets v Ulster game with Andy Moore and Sean Holley almost certainly will have been S4C's Red Button service - indeed Moore and Holley have teamed up to do such commentaries on S4C in previous seasons, so it makes sense.

Indeed on Saturday Sean tweeted a picture of him and Andy getting ready to do "some red button commentary" from Parc y Sgarlets.

No worries lads, i fully understand

The Beijing ePrix on ITV4- Presented by Jennie Gow, with commentary by Jack Nicholls and Dario Franchitti, reports by Nicki Shields and Marc Priestly, and analysis by Jann Madrdenborough and Kyle Wilson-Clarke.

Friday 12th September - BBC Two Wales and BBC Red Button

Scrum V Live: Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys

Ross Harries presenting from Rodney Parade alongside Ryan Jones, with Sean Holley in the analysis truck

Commentators: Gareth Charles and Stuart Davies

Red Button commentators: Gareth Rhys Owen and Deiniol Jones (sylwebaeth yn Gymraeg)

Reporter: Phil Steele, with Dafydd James providing pitchside punditry

Well, it will be once the prompt appears!

Aviva Premiership Rugby - Friday 12 September (BT Sport 2)

Round 2 - Harlequins v Saracens

Craig Doyle presenting live from The Stoop alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson and Ugo Monye.

Commentators: Nick Mullins, Lawrence Dallaglio & Matt Dawson

Reporter: Martin Bayfield

I think the thing about tennis on SS3 and golf on SS4 is that they both regularly go on for many, many hours each day.

Whereas each rugby union game occupies much shorter periods of time - which in turn means channel flexibility is an advantage so it can fit into different, shorter slots.

eg on Sat afternoon if they have cricket, tennis and golf blocking out major chunks of SS2/3/4 then the Pro 12 is ideal for SS1. Whereas they wouldn't want just 2 hours of another sport on SS1 with the rest on other channels.


BT Aviva contract expires at end of 2016/17.

BT / Sky Champions Cup contract expires at end of 2017/18.

It's a good point you make mlt11, it also means they can make more of a bigger play over the key games, such as the European final, and put them on Sky Sports 1 while still being able to have lower key games like those from the Currie Cup on 3 or 4

Although no 'prompt' Scrum V on the red button was working when I flicked it on at half 7. Alongside choosing BBC Alba's english language option - which for a second week in a row had problems. Looks like Paul Mitchell and John Beattie will be the commentators for it weekly. It eventually kicked in on the Edinburgh v Connacht match after 50 minutes, and BBC Alba finally put up a DOG on the 67th minute.

Luxury coverage.

Dan O'Hagan is on site for the Asian games.

The Rugby Championship - Saturday 13 September (Sky Sports 2)

Round 4 - New Zealand v South Africa

Rupert Cox in the studio alongside Sean Fitzpatrick and Thinus Delport.

Commentators: Grant Nisbett, Justin Marshall & Ian Smith (as SKY Sport NZ)

Rupert Cox did actually say the comms were from SKY TV in New Zealand as he handed over today.

The Rugby Championship - Saturday 13 September (Sky Sports 2)

Round 4 - Australia v Argentina

Rupert Cox in the studio alongside Michael Lynagh and Gonzalo Camacho.

Commentators: Greg Clark, Tim Horan, Rod Kafer & Nathan Sharpe (as Fox Sports Australia)

Again the host broadcaster was credited as they handed over.

Shinty on BBC 2 Scotland

Kingussie v Glenurquhart- Jonathan Sutherland presents. With commentary by Hugh Dan MacLennan.

Champions League T20 Northern Districts vs Southern Express at Raipur.
Commentators: Rameez Raja, Alan Wilkins, Simon Doull, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and Danny Morrison.

Aviva Premiership Rugby - Saturday 13 September (BT Sport 1)

Round 2 - Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers

Sarra Elgan presenting live from Sandy Park alongside Chiefs hooker Chris Whitehead.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Matt Perry

No reporter on this one, the only interviews were post-match and done by Ali Eykyn.

Unexpectedly no Austin either, and he wasn't really missed. The two guest co-comms BT have brought in (Perry today and Flatman last week) have been very good IMO. Interesting to see that they brought in Matt Perry rather than use BOD though.

Think BOD is just doing the European games.

Leinster v Scarlets - SS2
Alex Payne with Scott Quinnell at the RDS.

Comms: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes and Shane Horgan
Reporter: Graham Simmons

For me it didn't really work with Matt Perry, without him doing the tactical side with the graphics they hardly threw to him and Ben Kay did most of the analysis so he didn't really get involved. I agree with you on Flatman though, he's a much bigger character and is excellent on both BT and ITV4