A broadcaster has been granted exclusive live coverage of 20 rugby league games across various competitions in 2025, starting with the Challenge Cup first round this weekend.

Since first broadcasting in 2021, the Sportsman has been increasing its coverage of the sport, with the outlet, which has broadcast over 65 games over the last four seasons, covering its first game of the year as Thatto Heath Crusaders take on Orrell St James in the first round of the prestigious cup competition on Saturday.

The tie is a tasty St Helens vs Wigan (of sorts) battle between two proud community clubs and is a rematch of the 2024 BARLA National Cup final, which Thatto won 24-4 Meanwhile, coverage of the tie will begin at 14:15 on Saturday 11 February with kick-off scheduled for 14:30.

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The game will be broadcast live on the Sportsman’s YouTube page. It is free of charge, with further details on more live rugby league matches to come soon.

To date, the Sportsman has covered the Challenge Cup as well as Wheelchair Super League encounters. It also showed the Championship Grand Final between Wakefield Trinity and Toulouse Olympique last October and is a welcome addition to rugby league’s growing streaming platforms, of which games also featured on Sky Sports, the BBC, and OurLeague last season.

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