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European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) has signed a two-season broadcasting agreement with DAZN, expanding international access to the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup across multiple markets.
The agreement covers the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons, combining free-to-air and subscription-based coverage to increase the visibility of Europe’s leading club rugby competitions.
Under the partnership, DAZN will broadcast one Investec Champions Cup match per round free-to-air across several international territories, including Japan, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the Caribbean, the Nordics, the Baltics, Benelux, Poland, the DACH region, Brazil, Romania and the Pacific Islands.
Italy will receive an expanded offering, with DAZN streaming every Investec Champions Cup match live in English, including one free-to-air fixture per round. The platform will also show both matches involving Italian clubs during each round of the EPCR Challenge Cup, with Italian-language commentary.
The agreement complements EPCR TV, providing Italian rugby fans with additional ways to follow both competitions. Across the other territories, DAZN will offer a combination of live broadcasts, delayed coverage and on-demand content.
John Barton, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at EPCR, highlighted international growth and accessibility as key priorities for the organisation. He identified Italy as a particularly important market, with the combination of free and subscription coverage expected to strengthen engagement with European club rugby.
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group, emphasised the opportunity to use DAZN’s international distribution network to introduce EPCR competitions to new audiences while providing existing fans with more flexible viewing options.
The 2026/27 competitions bring together leading clubs from Europe and South Africa, with the pool stages beginning on October 16, 2026. The season will conclude in Lyon, France, with the EPCR Challenge Cup Final on May 21, 2027, followed by the Investec Champions Cup Final on May 22.
The partnership reinforces DAZN’s position in international sports streaming while supporting EPCR’s strategy of expanding its global audience through a combination of premium subscription rights and free-to-air distribution.
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