I spent a year in the states during 2003/2004, and found it extremely difficult to find my favourite rugby events on TV. As an avid rugby supporter, you can imagine how important it was to watch premier rugby events such as 2003 IRB rugby World cup and the 2004 Super 14, both of which I missed the bulk of. Devastating to say the least!

I’m not sure what the current situation is in the USA, given the growth of the sport within the last couple of years, but I received this from the Fox Network, and reckon it might come in handy for our USA based readers.

Fox Soccer Plus, a new premium network designed to complement Fox Soccer Channel, will provide loyal rugby fans with 56 live and premiere rugby matches over the next six weeks, totaling 112 hours of coverage.

This week’s slate of 10 rugby matches on Fox Soccer Plus begins with a Magners League showdown on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) between Connacht and Leinster, and continues with Super 14 action featuring Reds VS Stormers live on Friday, April 23 at 5:30 a.m. (ET).  England’s Guinness Premiership will take center stage on Saturday, April 24 at 2 p.m. ET with the London Wasps battling Bath Rugby.

Magners League and Super 14, as well as Europe’s Heineken Cup, will all climax with one-off finals in late May on Fox Soccer Plus.  The Heineken Cup title match will take place in Paris on May 22, while the Magners League and Super 14 finals are both slated for May 29.  The Guinness Premiership also concludes its season that day.

The premium network will also premiere Rugby World, an exclusive rugby magazine show airing each week beginning Friday, May 14 at 10:30 p.m. (ET) through July, 2010. Expert rugby analysts and commentators Dave Sitton, Brian Vizard, Ray Viers and Matt Brown will host the series of eight half-hour programs, providing context and perspective on all matters rugby. Rugby World will survey the globe to deliver the best highlights from the Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership, Super 14, Magners League, SANZAR June Tests, Churchill Cup, USA Rugby National Championships, Glendale Raptors and much more each week.

Fox Soccer Plus’ robust arsenal of exclusive rugby properties include Guinness Premiership, Heineken Cup, Magners League, and matches from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby (SANZAR), encompassing Super 14, Tri-Nations, Currie Cup (South Africa) and ITM Cup (New Zealand).

Scheduled Live and Premiere Rugby Coverage on Fox Soccer Plus:

Wednesday, April 21:

• Magners League: Connacht vs. Leinster at 7:30 p.m. ET (premiere)

Friday, April 23:

• Super 14: Reds vs. Stormers at 5:30 a.m. ET (live)
• Magners League: Glasgow Warriors vs. Leinster at 3 p.m. ET (live)
• Magners League: Newport Gwent Dragons vs. Cardiff Blues at 5 p.m. (premiere)

Saturday, April 24:

• Super 14: Waratahs vs. Brumbies at 5:30 a.m. (live)
• Guinness Premiership: London Wasps vs. Bath Rugby at 2 p.m. ET (premiere)
• Magners League: Munster vs. Ospreys at 6 p.m. ET (premiere)
• Super 14: Bulls vs. Lions at 8 p.m. ET (premiere)

Sunday, April 25:

• Magners League: Scarlets vs. Connacht at 12 p.m. ET (premiere)
• Magners League: Edinburgh vs. Ulster at 2 p.m. ET (premiere)

Fox Soccer Plus is available to video providers across the country in high-definition and offered to viewers on DIRECTV, DISH Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS as a premium service.

To subscribe, click below:

For a complete telecast schedule, click here