2011 Aviva Premiership Rugby Final on ESPN

May 25, 2011   ·   0 Comments

ESPN will broadcast live, exclusive coverage of the 2011 Aviva Premiership Rugby Final from Twickenham on Saturday 28th May.

The Final, marking the pinnacle of the English club rugby season, will feature Leicester Tigers against Saracens in a rematch of last year’s final. It is the first time that ESPN will be the exclusive television home of the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final.

ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the final will be hosted by Mark Durden-Smith with analysis from former England and Premiership stars Austin Healey and Ben Kay.  ESPN’s Nick Mullins will provide commentary for the match, joined by  Kay as his co-commentator. ESPN’s pre-match build up will be on-site at Twickenham. The ESPN mobile studio will be among the fans outside the West Stand, with ESPN’s pitchside presentation before kick-off.  As part of the special 90-minute build up to the final, Durden-Smith, Healey and Kay will be joined on ESPN’s set by England coach Martin Johnson, as well as Harlequins’ Nick Easter and Northampton’s Chris Ashton. ESPN will also feature a 30-minute post-match programme, providing analysis of the match, key highlights and interviews.

The Final is the conclusion of ESPN’s first season broadcasting the Aviva Premiership – a season in which it televised every one of its 43 matches from on-site at the grounds themselves, bringing viewers closer to the game and capturing the unique atmosphere of rugby.

Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President, TV Channels ESPN, EMEA said: “During ESPN’s debut season as lead broadcaster of the Aviva Premiership, we’ve offered rugby fans a new perspective by bringing them closer to the players and action than ever before, and delivering our coverage with authority and personality. As we build up to the pinnacle of the English club season, our comprehensive coverage of the Final will continue our focus on bringing rugby fans and viewers something distinctive.”

Throughout ESPN’s debut season of Premiership coverage, viewers have seen 163 tries, a total of 1773 points (an average of 42 points per game). The biggest win came in March when Harlequins surprised eventual semi-finalists, Gloucester, when they ran in seven tries in a 53-15 victory. ESPN’s first season began with the London double header at Twickenham on 4^th September as London Irish defeated Saracens 33-16 and Wasps and Harlequins played out a thrilling 29-29 draw.

ESPN Broadcast Schedule – Saturday 28th May :

13:30 – Aviva Premiership Rugby Final Build Up Live

Mark Durden-Smith, Austin Healey and Ben Kay present live from Twickenham with guests including Martin Johnson and Nick Easter

15:00 – Aviva Premiership Rugby Final Live : Leicester Tigers v Saracens

Nick Mullins and Ben Kay commentate

17:00 – Aviva Premiership Rugby Final Post Match Live

Mark Durden-Smith and Austin Healey plus special guests and post match interviews

Tags: Aviva Premiership, ESPN, Leicester Tigers, Mark Durden-Smith, Saracens