Free-to-air channel BLAZE to broadcast live Elior Champ Rugby games
Clubber TV and Hearst Networks have agreed to a pilot partnership which will give rugby fans the opportunity to watch free-to-air coverage on BLAZE of select Elior Champ Rugby games during the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The new partnership will see BLAZE jointly broadcast a select number of games, which will also be available on Clubber TV, starting with Cornish Pirates against Doncaster Knights on Sunday, September 20, from 3.30pm.
The partnership comes on the back of a record-breaking season for Elior Champ Rugby with close to 400,000 spectators (91.4% increase on last season’s total) attending games from round one through to the sold-out final, and 12.6 million watching video content on Champ Rugby’s social media accounts, making England Rugby’s second tier more popular than ever.
BLAZE launched in the UK in 2016 and is Hearst Networks’ first free-to-air brand. Hearst Networks is a joint venture between Hearst and Sky. Its portfolio of quality factual and entertainment channels also includes Sky HISTORY, Crime + Investigation and Sky HISTORY2.
Simon Gillham OBE, Chair of Champ Rugby Board said: ‘This is fantastic news for Elior Champ Rugby and will showcase the best of the league to a wider audience. We want our competition to be accessible to as many audiences as possible, and this extra offering now makes Champ Rugby the only weekly free-to-air rugby on English television. I’d like to thank Clubber TV and Hearst Networks for their commitment and support to our game.’
Lar Doyle, Chief Operating Officer, at Clubber TV said: ‘Clubber TV are delighted to be working with Hearst Networks and BLAZE to bring Elior Champ Rugby to a bigger audience. We’ve seen real momentum behind the competition over the past year, and making selected games available free-to-air is an important part of continuing to grow its visibility and reach.’
Heather Jones, Chief Creative Officer, EMEA, at Hearst Networks, said: ‘Champ Rugby reflects everything BLAZE stands for. It's exciting, fiercely competitive and deeply rooted in local communities, and we’re delighted to bring live Champ Rugby to free-to-air audiences. We know viewers increasingly value live experiences, and this partnership gives more fans the opportunity to discover one of English rugby’s best-kept sporting secrets every Sunday afternoon.’
Ealing Trailfinders’ games in Elior Champ Rugby to be broadcast on BLAZE as part of the pilot partnership:
Sunday, October 11 – Ealing Trailfinders v Hartpury
To watch Elior Champ Rugby on BLAZE, viewers can tune in to Freeview Channel 64, Sky HD 164, Sky Glass / Sky Stream 169 UK (162 ROI), Freesat 161 and Virgin TV 174 or via the BLAZE App.
