Premiership Rugby agrees record television deal

Premiership Rugby has confirmed its longest-ever television rights deal after completing a four-year contract extension with BT Sport.



The Aviva Premiership will be broadcast by BT until the end of the 2020-21 season, in a deal that will no doubt boost English clubs' spending power.



The new BT deal is expected to help Premiership clubs in their ongoing battle to compete with cash-rich French sides in recruiting and retaining top talent.



Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty hailed BT for helping increase TV audiences since gaining exclusive broadcast rights from Sky Sport…