UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has acquired rights to the Top 14, France’s top-tier rugby union club competition.
The five-year deal will begin in August and run until 2019.
Sky struck the deal with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, which operates the Top 14. The agreement will see coverage of the competition move from rival BT Sport, the pay-television service of UK telecommunications company BT.
Under the terms of its deal, Sky will broadcast live 55 games a season via its Sky Sports channels. Sky will also broadcast a weekly highlights programme.
Fans can also access coverage on mobile and tablet devices via the broadcaster’s Sky Go video-on-demand service and the Sky Sports iPad application.
The agreement marks the first time Sky will broadcast coverage of the Top 14.