ENGLAND’S opening rugby Test this summer will make a surprising piece of history.
Saturday’s clash against Eddie Jones‘ Japan in Tokyo on Saturday will NOT be on live TV.
Steve Borthwick succeeded Eddies Jones as England coach in 2022, with the latter now in charge of Japan against the Red Rose this Saturday[/caption]
Neither terrestrial nor satellite TV agreed a deal for this weekend’s Test[/caption]
It’s the first time in decades no broadcast deal has been agreed for a Red Rose Test.
Instead Steve Borthwick‘s men can only be seen live online.
England rugby chiefs unveiled the arrangement – describing it as an “exclusive” and “exciting” deal with Rugby Pass TV.
Just last month it was revealed the sport’s bosses were scrambling to agree coverage on mainstream television.
Sky Sports already had a deal with Southern Hemisphere rugby chiefs (Sanzaar) to show England’s second and third Tests this summer – both against New Zealand.
But Japan is not covered by Sanzaar, which left a gap this weekend.
Now England Rugby have confirmed they have set up their own package for showing the game live.
That Rugby Pass service can be accessed via website, app and smart TV.
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England Rugby Marketing Director Ewan Turney said: “This is an exciting partnership with World Rugby to enable all fans in the UK and Ireland to watch this historic match for free.
“We know that younger audiences are gravitating towards streaming platforms and fans are watching matches on a multitude of devices so we have chosen this free-to-air route.”
Saturday’s Test in the Japanese capital starts at 6.50am British Summer time.
The come two daunting challenges in New Zealand.
They face the All Blacks in Dunedin on July 6 and at Eden park in Auckland seven days later.
