Rugby Super League 2023-2024

Rugby, originally conceived as a university sport and still maintaining strong ties to academia, swiftly garnered widespread acclaim through various organizations and competitions, such in our days the Super League, inaugurated in 1996, supplanting the First Division. At Mediapro BMS, we take pride in our role in promoting its visibility in contemporary times. Sky Sports, the renowned English TV network holding the live broadcast rights of the Super League, has entrusted Mediapro BMS with the production of all matches featuring the Catalans Dragons during the 2023-2024 season in Perpignan. Sky Sports then distributes that signal through linear and online TV to 3 continents: Europe, Australia, and America.

For the second consecutive year, Mediapro BMS has assembled a dedicated team of 24 professionals for the assignment in this small town in the south of France, supported by a big Outside Broadcast (OB) Van equipped with 6-8 cameras strategically positioned on the field, as well as a comprehensive TMS control unit (VAR) where we’re in charge of the referees’ communications system. Rugby was a pioneer in implementing the Tactical Management System (called VAR in other sports) more than a decade ago and has a referee inside the OB Van who helps check the plays as well as provide medical advice in case of major injuries. Our technical team includes a producer, 2 replay operators, a Vision Engineer operator, a vision mixer, and 2 graphics operators. Together, they meticulously oversee the production process, from pre-match previews to live broadcasts and post-match interviews, all streamed live through Sky Sports’ online platform.

Rugby embodies the essence of team sports, characterized by a rich tradition of expertise and camaraderie among players—a spirit mirrored by every BMS professional. Throughout the regular league season, we bring viewers 12 home games from the iconic Stadium Gilbert Brutus, with an additional 2 if the playoffs are secured. Following the regular season, the top six teams out of the 24-competing advance to the playoffs, culminating in the Grand Final, the pinnacle event of the Super League season, traditionally held at Old Trafford.

The Catalans Dragons, an integral part of the Super League since 2007, gained entry through the merger of two Perpignan-based clubs, XIII Catalan and AS Saint-Estève. Their best-triumph list in Rugby-13 includes one French Championship and two Lord Derby Cups, underscoring their prowess and contribution to the sport’s legacy.