EPCR and DAZN Agree Multi-Territory Broadcast Deal for Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup
European Professional Club Rugby and DAZN have entered a multi-territory broadcast agreement for the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. The deal was announced on 16 October 2026 and covers the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons.
It gives DAZN users in a range of markets free-to-air access to one Investec Champions Cup match per round. Viewers in Italy get additional subscription coverage on top. The aim is to widen the international reach of EPCR’s two premier club competitions, bringing more European and South African club rugby to a larger global audience.
How the EPCR and DAZN broadcast partnership is structured
The free-to-air element sits at the centre of the deal. DAZN will stream one Investec Champions Cup match per round free-to-air across multiple markets, with subscription coverage layered on top in Italy.
The partnership runs alongside EPCR TV rather than replacing it. Fans get live, delayed and on-demand viewing, giving them flexibility in how they watch across both seasons.
Why Italy is the standout market for Investec Champions Cup coverage
Italy gets the most comprehensive offering in the agreement. DAZN will stream every Investec Champions Cup match live in English, with one per round also available free-to-air.
It will also carry both matches involving Italian clubs in every round of the EPCR Challenge Cup, with Italian-language commentary. Combined with EPCR TV, the setup gives Italian fans extensive access to their home teams on the European stage.
Which markets gain free-to-air Champions Cup rugby through DAZN
Beyond Italy, DAZN will make one Investec Champions Cup match per round available free-to-air in Japan, the Middle East and North Africa, the Caribbean, the Nordics, the Baltics, Benelux, Poland, the Pacific Islands, the DACH region, Brazil and Romania.
The spread leans on DAZN’s global footprint and sport-focused platform. EPCR is using it to strengthen the international reach of its competitions and attract new audiences.
What EPCR and DAZN leadership said about the agreement
EPCR Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer John Barton framed the deal as a step forward for the competitions’ international profile.
John Barton, EPCR Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer:
“Expanding the international profile and accessibility of our competitions is a key priority for EPCR, and this new agreement with DAZN is an important step forward. Italy is a particularly exciting market for us, and combining free-to-air and subscription coverage, alongside EPCR TV, will give more fans the opportunity to engage with the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. We’re also delighted to extend our relationship with DAZN across a broad range of international markets, helping us bring the very best of club rugby to new and existing audiences around the world.”
DAZN Group chief executive Shay Segev pointed to reach and access as the driving logic.
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN Group:
“By combining EPCR’s world-class rugby competitions with DAZN’s global reach and innovative platform, we can bring the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to more fans across more markets. DAZN’s partnership with EPCR reflects our commitment to support leading sports properties with growing their international audiences, while giving fans easier and more flexible access to the sport they love.”
How EPCR TV and DAZN together widen access to both competitions
The new DAZN offering complements EPCR TV rather than replacing it, broadening the ways fans can follow both competitions across the coming two seasons.
The free-to-air element is the key addition. It opens one Investec Champions Cup match per round to fans outside subscription coverage, giving EPCR a wider distribution base as it looks to reach new audiences alongside its existing ones.
What the EPCR and DAZN deal sets up for club rugby’s next two seasons
The 2026/27 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup feature Europe and South Africa’s leading clubs, with the pool stages starting on 16 October 2026.
The season builds towards the EPCR Finals Weekend in Lyon at the OL Stadium. The EPCR Challenge Cup Final is set for 21 May 2027, with the Investec Champions Cup Final the following day on 22 May 2027. For EPCR, the deal opens a two-season window to turn its wider footprint into the audiences both parties say they are targeting.
Source: DAZN Group
