The Heineken Cup, which begins on December 5, is a competition for rugby clubs across Europe. Ties will be played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, of which Sky will broadcast three each weekend, as well as the semifinals and the final. Other games will be covered in special highlights programmes.
The finals of the Heineken Cup and Parker Pen Challenge Cup will be played on the weekend of May 22-23 2004 and Sky expects to announce televised fixtures for the first weekend early next month.
Last year, it was an all-French final in which Toulouse saw off rivals Perpignan.
Derek McGrath, chief executive of the England Rugby Club, said: "This is great news for the 56 clubs across eight countries who compete in our two main tournaments and for rugby fans throughout the UK.
"The number of live games they will broadcast in the Heineken Cup at both the pool stage and in the knock-out stage will ensure the tournament retains its position as the number one club competition in the world game."
Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "The Heineken Cup will be even bigger this season, coming so quickly after what should be a successful World Cup. It is the Champions League of Rugby Union, and we shall treat it as such in both coverage and promotion. Our commitment is for at least three live matches per weekend, but when we look at the fixtures for that first weekend, we find ourselves very tempted to do more."
The deal brings the number of Rugby Union matches Sky Sports will screen over the next year, including international, European and domestic games, to 100.
Sky Sports covers live rugby every month of the year with the line-up including England's autumn internationals, Zurich Premiership, Tri-Nations, Super 12s, Home Nations tours to the southern hemisphere, and the next Lions tour in 2005.
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