Pitch International to Continue Distributing England Rugby Rights With new Sky Deal

Sports marketing agency Pitch International has signed a four-year agreement with UK broadcaster Sky to distrbute the international rights for England Rugby.

The deal was struck in agreement with the sport’s governing body in England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and will see Pitch and Sky sell the rights to all England’s home games, apart from Six Nations and Rugby World Cup matches, until 2019-20.

Sky secured a five-season deal with the RFU in October for global rights to run from 2015-16 to 2019-20.

Richard Verow, the commercial director of Sky Sports, said: “We have worked closely with the RFU for over twenty years and are now excited to be part of the team responsible for the sale of their international rights.

Jon Owen, a partner at Pitch International, said: “As the IRB Rugby World Cup approaches, excitement around the English rugby team has rarely been higher and we look forward to making sure this interest, and the legacy it leaves, is enjoyed by rugby fans across every continent.”

Sophie Goldschmidt, the RFU’s chief commercial and marketing officer, said: “2015 will see unprecedented exposure for England Rugby and the deep relationship with Sky and Pitch International will enable us to maximise this opportunity for the good of the sport, long term.