Welsh broadcaster goes big on Wales-focused sporting re-runs.
Welsh broadcaster S4C is the latest to announce a series of archive broadcasts, to fill the slot left by live sport cancellations.
Naturally, it’s focused on Wales’ sporting past, with the broadcaster commissioning a number of productions it will TX over the coming weeks.
The programming includes rugby (featuring the Wales national and Under 20s teams), football and sports docs.
Rugby
A series called Tŷ Rygbi which starts tonight (27 April) at 9:30pm, sees Rhys ap William speaking to Mike Phillips, Shane Williams and Sioned Harries about the issues affecting the world of rugby during the lockdown, and how players and fans are keeping themselves busy.
Another production – Clasuron Cwpan Ewrop – which starts on Saturday 30 May looks back at three memorable matches in the European Heineken Champions Cup – Toulouse v Scarlets 2006, Cardiff Blues v Leicester 2009 and Cardiff Blues v Toulon 2010.
S4C is also airing highlights from the last few years of The World Rugby Bermuda Classic rugby tournament, beginning at 9.30pm on Wednesday 8 June.
The sports docs it will show over the coming months include Y Gamp Lawn 2019, focused on Wales’ Grand Slam-winning 2019 Guinness Six Nations campaign; Cofio Dydd y Farn, featuring action from Judgement Days, with all four rugby regions; Syr Gareth Edwards, which looks back at the career of the legendary Wales scrum-half; and Clasuron y Clybiau, which re-lives the WRU National Cup, Plate and Bowl finals over the years.
Highlights of S4C’s classic match re-runs
Five and Six Nations Four programmes, starting at 9.00pm on Friday 8 May, looking back on England v Wales 1988, Wales v France 1994, Wales v England 2005 and Wales v England 2013, with the stars who played their part in each match.
Rugby World Cup Two programmes focusing on classic World Cup encounters; Wales v New Zealand 2003 and Wales v France 2011, Wales v England 2015 and Wales v Australia 2019.
Under 20 World Rugby Championship Starting at 10.00pm on Friday 4 May, a look back at six matches, from the inaugural championship in 2008 to last year’s competition, including Wales’ win over New Zealand in 2012.
Football
S4C is planning full match re-runs of some of the Wales football teams best matches over the last two years, via the Sgorio Rhyngwladol series.
It begins with Wales v Republic of Ireland 2018, which is available to watch on S4C Clic now, and continues at 5.30pm every Saturday from 25 April, with; Slovakia v Wales 2019, Wales v Croatia 2019, Azerbaijan v Wales 2019 and Wales v Hungary 2019.
There will also be classic matches from the Welsh Premier League and Welsh Cup, in Clasuron Uwch Gynghrair Cymru. This series starts on Sunday 10 May with Bangor City v The New Saints 2010, Caernarfon Town v The New Saints 2014 and Bala Town v The New Saints 2017.
Other sports
The broadcaster is also scheduling another chance to look back at Geraint Thomas’ victory in the 2018 Tour de France, in Geraint Thomas: Vive le Tour, at 9.00pm on Friday 24 April.
Also, Netball fans can look back at Wales’ performances during last year’s summer series, in Pêl-Rwyd: Uchafbwyntiau Cyfres Cymru 2019, on Wednesday 20 May.
IMAGE: Wales v England, Millennium Stadium. ©Huw Evans Agency Ltd