EBU and Rugby Europe agree to Sevens rights deal

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Rugby Europe have come together in a major collaboration to bring Rugby Sevens to selected European territories, they confirmed on Thursday.

The agreement, which has been reached between EBU and Rugby Europe, the governing body for Rugby Union on the continent, will allow EBU Members to broadcast the Rugby Europe Men's and Women's Championship Series in 2023 and 2024.

The initial deal grants Eurovision Sport exclusive live rights for EBU Members in Czechia (CT), Lithuania (LRT), Poland (TVP), and Spain (RTVE), with the possibility of including more Members from additional territories. EBU Members will provide coverage centered around their respective national teams and will utilize both linear and non-linear platforms to bring the excitement to viewers. News clips from the events will also be distributed through Eurovision Sports News, and the tournaments will receive promotion across the social media platforms of both the Members and Rugby Europe.

The agreement encompasses the following events:

Rugby Europe Men & Women Sevens Championship Series 2023

Leg 1: Algarve Sevens Tournament – 9-11 June

Leg 2: Hamburg Sevens Tournament – 7-9 July

Participating Men's Teams: Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Lithuania, Georgia, Ireland, Great Britain, Romania, Czechia.

Participating Women's Teams: Poland, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Romania.

Rugby Europe Men & Women Sevens Championship Series 2024

Leg 1: Algarve Sevens Tournament – June or July 2024

Leg 2: Hamburg Sevens Tournament – June or July 2024

The Rugby Europe Sevens Championships will determine the Men's and Women's Rugby Sevens European Champions based on their rankings after the two rounds of competition. Reigning champions Spain (men) and Poland (women) will face tough competition from other formidable contenders, including Germany and Ireland, both of which emerged victorious in previous editions, as well as Great Britain and France, who are part of the esteemed World Rugby World Series.

Andreas Aristodemou, Head of Summer Sports at Eurovision Sport, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We are thrilled to enrich our expanding portfolio with the Rugby Europe Sevens events. These national team events are perfectly aligned with our Members' DNA of supporting Olympic sports at the highest possible level, and we are proud to support Rugby Sevens for the next two years."

Florent Marty, CEO of Rugby Europe, added, "We are delighted to partner with EBU for the promotion of our Sevens European Championship Series. Thanks to their expertise in top-level sports events and their impressive broadcaster network and membership, this will be a huge opportunity to promote Rugby Sevens and to expose the European talents and national teams to sports fans, especially ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games."

Rugby Sevens, a fast-paced variant of traditional Rugby Union played with seven players per side, made its debut on the Olympic stage in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, it has gained popularity among a younger and more diverse demographic of Olympic fans.

The involvement of Eurovision Sport with Rugby Sevens extends beyond the European Championship Series. This year, a collaboration between Eurovision Sport and the Krakow 2023 European Games (21 June - 2 July 2023) will feature an Olympic Qualifier event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking the first-ever appearance of Rugby Sevens in the prestigious event.