TV3 have managed to secure the exclusive rights to all Rugby World Cup coverage this year with all 48 matches to be shown on the station. They also revealed today who will be joining former Irish captain Keith Wood on the panel and it's quite a star-studded bunch, who needs Hooky and Pope?
Analysing all the action throughout with Keith, will be rugby coaching guru Matt Williams, Stuart Barnes of Sky Sports, former Ireland scrum half Peter Stringer, the soon to be retired Leinster flanker Shane Jennings, former Ireland international rugby union player Hugo MacNeill and legendary English World Cup winning flanker Neil Back.
On commentating duty will be BBC's Conor McNamara, former Munster academy member and regular writer for The Journal Murray Kinsella, and rugby analyst Liam Toland, who will also join Matt Cooper and TV3’s own Sinead Kissane on the broadcasting team.
Following the announcement of its panel, Niall Cogley, TV3 Group Director of Broadcasting, said: "We have assembled a team of contributors with differing views on the game but all with two things in common – they share impeccable rugby credentials and they are all excellent communicators. The TV3 panellists have different and complimentary perspectives so that our analysis segments can help viewers enjoy the games more. We look forward now to September in what promises to be a tremendous sporting occasion."
While the broadcaster also confirmed today that TV3HD will also launch in August, so it will feel like we are practically ON the pitch with O'Connell and the lads when we're watching. Roll on September!
