By Glen Leat
July 16 2002

Sky Sports and Premier Rugby have confirmed the first live televised matches for the 2002-2003 Zurich Premiership campaign. Starting with Leicester's opening match at Leeds, eight live games have already been scheduled over the opening weeks of the season and all clubs have been included.

    The live Zurich Premiership fixtures include:

       * Leeds Tykes v Leicester Tigers
         Zurich Premiership and European Cup champions Leicester face a
         tricky opener away to Leeds, last year's bottom placed club.
         Both teams boast summer signings, making this contest an
         intriguing one to open Sky's domestic coverage.

       * Gloucester vs Bristol Shoguns
         Two of South-West England's powerhouses do battle at Kingsholm
         as Gloucester host rivals Bristol Shoguns in a rematch of the
         Zurich Championship final.

       * Sale Sharks vs London Irish
         Powergen Cup holders London Irish travel to Sale Sharks,
         runners up to Leicester in last year's Zurich Premiership.

    Sky Sports will show up to 28 matches, exclusively live, from this
    season's Zurich Premiership in addition to The Rugby Club, Sky's
    weekly rugby union magazine show, which returns with a pre-season
    special on Thursday 29th August.

    Sky's presentation team will continue to include the likes of Simon
    Lazenby, Stuart Barnes, Dewi Morris, Michael Lynagh and Miles
    Harrison.

    The first eight televised games are:

    Round 1
    Saturday 31st August
    Leeds Tykes v. Leicester Tigers         14.00 kick off

    Round 2
    Saturday 7th September
    Northampton Saints v. Newcastle Falcons 14.00 kick off

    Round 3
    Saturday 14th September
    Bath v. London Wasps                    14.00 kick off

    Round 4
    Saturday 21st September
    Gloucester v. Bristol Shoguns           14.00 kick off

    Round 5
    Saturday 28th September
    Saracens v. Northampton Saints          14.00 kick off

    Round 6
    Saturday 5th October
    Sale Sharks v. London Irish             14.00 kick off

    Round 7
    Saturday 26th October
    London Wasps v. Gloucester              14.00 kick off

    Round 8
    Saturday 2nd November
    NEC Harlequins v. Bath                  14.00 kick off