UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has acquired exclusive rights for three of Scotland’s warm-up games for the 2015 Rugby World Cup national team tournament.
The deal with governing body Scottish Rugby includes back-to-back fixtures against Italy in Turin on August 22 and Murrayfield in Edinburgh on August 29.
BT Sport’s coverage of the summer series concludes in Paris at the Stade de France with a match against France on September 5. Rival pay-television broadcaster Sky Sports will broadcast Scotland’s other World Cup warm-up in Ireland on August 15.
Dominic McKay, Scottish Rugby’s director of commercial operations, public affairs and communications, said: “We are delighted BT Sport will bring all their rugby expertise to these must-see games and build on the great coverage of the sport they have produced this season. It further reinforces the excellent relationship BT has with Scottish Rugby, which is enabling us to make significant investments in the game at all levels.”
The latest agreement comes after BT Sport’s parent company, telecommunications company BT, struck a deal in April to become the shirt sponsor for Scotland’s national rugby union teams. The three-year deal runs from 2015-16 to 2017-18.