ZURICH RUGBY:

Sky Sports Live TV Fixtures - Zurich Premiership 2003-2004

Sky Sports and Premier Rugby today announced the first live televised
matches for the 2003-2004 Zurich Premiership season.

The opening match sees 2003 Zurich Champions, London Wasps in a London
derby against NEC Harlequins at The Stoop. Before the New Year, Sky
Sports will broadcast live action from all 12 Zurich Premiership venues.

For the first time, live Saturday games will be regularly scheduled for a
2.45pm kick-off - in line with club requests allowing latest scores and
live reports from other Saturday games across the country to be featured
on the live Sky game at half-time and full-time.

The live Zurich Premiership fixtures include:

* NEC Harlequins vs London Wasps: last season's Zurich Premiership
Champions open the season away against rival London club, NEC
Harlequins at The Stoop on 13 September.

* Rotherham vs NEC Harlequins: newly-promoted Rotherham's clash
against Harlequins at Millmoor for their first televised home game
in the Premiership on 20 September.

* Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers: two Premiership heavyweights clash
at Kingsholm on 11 October.

* London Irish vs London Wasps: the big game to watch on 27 December -
the London derby will be one of London Irish's big games of the
season against the 2003 Champions.

"We're really excited about the new Zurich Premiership season on Sky
Sports," said Martin Turner, Sky Sports Executive Producer, Rugby Union.
"With a regular Saturday afternoon slot we'll be able to update our
viewers with live reports from the other action in the Premiership during
the intervals in our live match coverage and with action from last
season's finalists as well as Premiership newcomers, Rotherham to look
forward to in the first 2 weeks of the season, it's a thrilling line-up
of matches."

Sky Sports will show up to 28 matches exclusively live from the Zurich
Premiership this season in addition to The Rugby Club, Sky's weekly
magazine programme that keeps you up to date with rugby union action from
around the world.

Simon Lazenby will host expert analysis of the Zurich Premiership games
from Dewi Morris and Michael Lynagh in the studio, with Stuart Barnes and
Miles Harrison providing incisive match commentary. Graham Simmons will
be pitchside gleaning interviews and reaction from players and coaches.

At international level, Sky Sports will also show live coverage of
England's World Cup warm-up games against Wales in Cardiff on 23 August
and France at Marseilles on 30 August and Twickenham on 6 September.
Additional information to follow.

The confirmed live Zurich Premiership fixtures for 2003 are:

SEPTEMBER
Sat 13th NEC Harlequins vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm
Sat 20th Rotherham vs NEC Harlequins k.o. 2.45pm
Sat 27th Gloucester vs Saracens k.o. 2.45pm

OCTOBER
Sat 4th Leicester Tigers vs Sale Sharks k.o. 2.45pm
Sun 5th London Wasps vs Bath k.o. 2.00pm
Sat 11th Gloucester vs Leicester Tigers k.o. 2.45pm
Wed 15th Saracens vs Northampton Saints k.o. 7.45pm
Sun 19th Bath vs Saracens k.o. 2.00pm
Sat 25th Newcastle Falcons vs Bath k.o. 2.45pm
Fri 31st Sale Sharks vs London Irish k.o. 7.45pm

NOVEMBER
Sat 1st Northampton Saints vs Gloucester k.o. 2.45pm
Sat 8th Leeds Tykes vs Sale Sharks k.o. 2.45pm
Fri 21st London Wasps vs Gloucester k.o. 7.45pm
Sat 29th Newcastle Falcons vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm

DECEMBER
Sat 20th Northampton Saints vs Leicester Tigers k.o. 2.45pm
Sat 27th London Irish vs London Wasps k.o. 2.45pm

Further details on Sky Sports' live coverage of the Zurich Premiership
will be announced throughout the tournament.

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