TNT Sports clinch deal to broadcast Antoine Dupont's HSBC SVNS debut
TNT Sports will broadcast Antoine Dupont’s HSBC SVNS debut in Vancouver this weekend alongside RugbyPass TV after clinching a two-year deal to show live in the UK and Ireland the World Rugby sevens circuit.
The France men’s XV skipper decided last December to take a Test rugby sabbatical to play for his country at the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
He has been now selected to appear in the Canadian leg of the circuit on the same weekend that Fabien Galthie’s Les Bleus are playing their third-round Guinness Six Nations match at home to Italy in Lille.
A statement read: “TNT Sports announce a new addition to its expanded rugby portfolio by securing live rights to screen the HSBC SVNS, rugby sevens’ biggest annual competition worldwide, in the UK and Ireland on a two-year deal until the end of the 2025 season.
“With three rounds of the 2023/24 series completed, the first broadcast of the revamped series on TNT Sports and discovery+ will be when the HSBC SVNS heads to Vancouver in western Canada on the weekend of February 23/25.
“From Vancouver to Los Angeles and Hong Kong to Singapore, culminating in the grand finale in Madrid, the HSBC SVNS plays host to some of the world’s most iconic destinations with immersive festival experiences for fans cheering the likes of crowd favourites Fiji, the fearsome New Zealanders and exciting South African side.
“The 2023/24 HSBC SVNS also represents the very first time both men’s and women’s tournaments have parity at every round over the season.
"In a further win for sports fans watching on TNT Sports and discovery+ in the UK and Ireland, show content from every round will include post-match and in-game interviews with players and coaches to bring to life the high-octane atmosphere, as well as additional features and storytelling items to further capture the event to its fullest.
“As the road to Olympic Games Paris 2024 draws closer, broadcasting the HSBC SVNS further strengthens Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports Europe’s approach to showcasing Olympic sports all year round.
"WBD’s channels and platforms, discovery+ and Eurosport, will be the only place in the UK to watch all of the Olympics from Paris this summer – including every moment of the rugby sevens competition held at the iconic Stade de France (July 24-30).
Trojan Paillot of Warner Bros Discovery Europe said: “In a historic year for the sport, we’re pleased to further expand our huge and varied premium rugby offer for fans in the UK and Ireland.
"With men’s and women’s HSBC SVNS now available alongside Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup and Premiership Women’s Rugby, as well as all the rugby from Olympic Games Paris 2024 this summer, there is something on offer for every rugby fan on Warner Bros. Discovery Sports platforms.”
HSBC SVNS CALENDAR
Round four: Vancouver, Canada – February 23-25
Round five: Los Angeles, USA – March 1-3
Round six: Hong Kong, April 5-7
Round seven: Singapore, May 3-5
Round eight: Madrid, Spain (grand finale), May 31-June 2
- Click here for all the HSBC SVNS tournament details
Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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