Rugby stars set to wear microphones during Premiership matches in the new year to bring viewers closer to the action after successful trials

Rugby stars set to wear microphones during Premiership matches in the new year to bring viewers closer to the action after successful trials

In an effort to put fans closer to the action,

the Gallagher Premiership and its primary league broadcaster,

TNT Sports, plan to include player microphone content in their match coverage starting in 2024.

In other sports, like cricket, it’s already customary for players or participants to get “mic’d up” while playing,

and plans are in place for rugby to adopt this practice more frequently.

It is a component of the English domestic game’s strategy to attract more viewers at home and engage its fan base and television audience in new ways.

Rugby has not utilised player microphones much up until now,

mostly due to the physical nature of the game making it impractical for

players to wear a device that allows them to communicate with TV pundits,

commentators, or presenters while they are in action.

Ellis Jenkins of Cardiff, however, donned a microphone during his team’s

United Rugby Championship victory over DHL Stormers of South Africa earlier this season.

Rugby supporters from all teams praised Cardiff for their bold move since it gave

TV viewers a new perspective on what it’s like on the pitch thanks to the sounds from Jenkins’ microphone.

BBC Wales broadcast that match. Jenkins did not speak to anyone else while wearing it,

but the post-match audio and video complement the broadcast and make for excellent social media material.

In order to protect viewers from offensive language or other content,

player microphone content is not broadcast live.

Saints defender George Furbank wore a microphone during the warm-up in

November before his Northampton squad took on the Harlequins.

This allowed him to have a two-way discussion with

TNT presenter Orla Chennaoui and pundits Brian O’Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio.

Wales flanker Jenkins stated, “We’ve done the player mic a few times in the past with BBC,

but the Stormers game was the first since Covid.”

“The club and I both recognise the value of expanding

the game and bringing fans and spectators closer to the action.”

Since other sports and other media compete fiercely for attention,

it is critical that we make an effort to be more approachable.

“The content delighted the club and its supporters.”

After World Rugby has given its approval,

Premiership Rugby and TNT intend to be able to provide

spectators with in-match player microphone content as soon as possible.

MailSport is aware that the RFU, as the body that oversees English rugby,

must apply to World Rugby in order for it to be approved for health and safety reasons,

but that this should only be a formality.

Under his Cardiff playing jersey,

Jenkins carried a microphone and supporting power unit sewn onto a vest against the Stormers.

The player wearing such equipment is neither distracted or has any kind of performance interference.

Super Rugby in the southern hemisphere has been authorised by

World Rugby to using player microphones in the past.

The Premiership and TNT want to keep breaking new ground.

This season, we have already seen interviews with players who have

been substituted and with try scorers right after they have crossed the line.

An excellent illustration of the latter was England prop Joe Marler’s interview with

TNT following his substitution during his Harlequins team’s match against Sale.

Marler gave a fantastic account of his experience scrummaging against

England Under-20 prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour and the young, talented Sharks.

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