ALL OF CONNACHT’S home games in the Guinness Pro14 will be shown on TG4 this season as part of the broadcaster’s live coverage of the competition announced in Galway this morning.

TG4 will broadcast 28 live games free-to-air over the course of the 2018/19 season, with a particular emphasis on the western province as they begin a new era under head coach Andy Friend.

Defending champions Leinster and Munster will also feature heavily throughout the campaign, with all of their games against Welsh opposition shown live on the Irish-speaking channel.

Leinster’s trip to face Cardiff Blues this Friday evening [7.35pm] will be the opening game of TG4′s coverage, while their cameras will be at the Sportsground for Connacht’s clash with Glasgow Warriors on Saturday [3pm].

TG4 signed a new three-year deal with Pro14 last March to continue its long-standing coverage of the competition, which stretches back to the inaugural season of the Celtic League in 2001/02.

In addition to the Galway-based broadcaster’s live coverage, they will carry evening highlights of the provinces in action, beginning this weekend with Munster’s round one fixture against Cheetahs at Thomond Park.

Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill returns as the anchor for the programmes and she will be joined by an expert panel of analysts including former Connacht prop Rónán Loughney, Marcus Horan, Eoghan Ó Neachtain and Ireland women’s international Eimear Considine. 

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“TG4 are very proud of our association with this tournament which began in 2001,” TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, said.

“We look forward to bringing comprehensive coverage of the Guinness Pro14 to viewers and rugby fans all over Ireland on free-to-air television in the coming months with 28 live matches as well as highlights and deferred coverage each week. 

“We are very pleased to have agreed a television rights deal with the Pro14 for the next three seasons and we look forward to seeing some great rugby matches over the coming months.”

TG4 will have live coverage of the 2018/19 Pro14 final from Glasgow’s Celtic Park on Saturday 25 May.  

TG4 Pro14 fixture details 2018/19

Round 1:

• Friday 31 August: Cardiff Blues v Leinster, 7.35pm
• Saturday 1 September: Connacht v Glasgow Warriors, 3pm

Round 2:

• Saturday 8 September: Connacht v Zebre, 5.15pm
• Saturday 8 September: Scarlets v Leinster, 7.35pm

Round 3: 

• Friday 14 September: Munster v Ospreys, 7.35pm
• Saturday 15 September: Leinster v Dragons, 5.15pm

Round 4:

• Friday 21 September: Cardiff Blues v Munster, 7.35pm
• Saturday 22 September: Connacht v Scarlets, 5.15pm

Round 5:

• Saturday 29 September: Connacht v Leinster, 5.15pm 

Round 8:

• Saturday 3 November Connacht v Dragons, 5.15pm

Round 9:

• Friday 23 November: Leinster v Ospreys, 7.35pm

Round 10: 

• Saturday 1 December: Dragons v Leinster, 5.15pm

Round 12:

• Friday 28 December: Connacht v Ulster, 7.35pm

Round 13:

• Saturday 5 January: Connacht v Munster, 7.35pm

Round 14:

• Friday 25 January: Leinster v Scarlets, 7.35pm
• Saturday 26 January: Dragons v Munster, 3pm
• Saturday 26 January: Cardiff Blues v Connacht, 5.15pm

Round 15:

• Saturday 16 February: Connacht v Toyota Cheetahs, 5.30pm

Round 16:

• Friday 22 February: Ospreys v Munster, 7.35pm 

Round 17: 

• Saturday 2 March: Connacht v Ospreys, 2.45pm
• Saturday 2 March: Scarlets v Munster, 5pm 

Round 18: 

• Friday 22 March or Saturday 23 March: Connacht v Benetton Rugby
• Friday 22 March or Saturday 23 March : Munster v Zebre 

Round 19: 

• Friday 5 April or Saturday 6 April: Leinster v Benetton Rugby
• Friday 5 April or Saturday 6 April: Munster v Cardiff Blues

Round 20:

• Friday 12 April or Saturday 13 April: Connacht v Cardiff Blues

Final:

• Saturday 25 May: Live on TG4 from Celtic Park, Glasgow

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!