BT Sport to screen semi-final clashes

By Mark Stevens
17/6/21

The business end of the season is finally upon us as the final four battle it out for Gallagher Premiership Rugby superiority - and you can watch all the drama live on BT Sport.

Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Harlequins and Sale Sharks will all be vying for a spot in the showpiece final as a super Saturday of action delivers a semi-final double header.

We begin at Ashton Gate where the Bears take on Harlequins in the first game of the day.

Pat Lam’s men finished top of the table for the first time in their history and they will be hoping that home advantage can fire them to their first ever Gallagher Premiership Rugby final.

Harlequins will be hoping to carry their end of season form into the semi-finals, with their final performance of the regular campaign seeing them beat Newcastle Falcons 54-26.

Coverage at Ashton Gate gets underway at 1pm, before kick-off at 1.30pm live on BT Sport 1HD.

The second game of the day sees Alex Sanderson’s Sharks travel away to Sandy Park to face defending champions Chiefs for the second time in as many weeks.

Facing off last weekend, the Sharks looked to be in a comfortable position, leading 19-3 shortly after the interval, but the Devon side launched a stunning second-half fightback.

Despite having Scotland lock Sam Skinner sent off, Rob Baxter’s men came from behind to secure a spectacular 20-19 win and secure home advantage against the Sharks.

And the visitors’ prospects of a Sandy Park win will be made even harder by the loss of fly-half AJ MacGinty, who was stretchered off late on and has been ruled out of this weekend’s game.

Should the hosts manage to overcome Sharks on Saturday then they will reach their sixth consecutive Gallagher Premiership Rugby final but a win for Sale would secure them their first final berth since 2006, when they beat Leicester Tigers to clinch the title.

Coverage at Sandy Park starts at 3.45pm, before kick-off at 4.30pm live on BT Sport 1HD while you can watch highlights of both games in Channel 5’s regular Monday night show from 7pm.

Saturday 19 June

Bristol Bears v Harlequins (Ashton Gate) – coverage starts at 1pm, kick-off at 1.30pm live on BT Sport 1HD

Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks (Sandy Park) – coverage starts at 3.45pm, kick off at 4.30pm live on BT Sport 1HD

Monday 21 June

Gallagher Premiership Rugby highlights - Channel 5 from 7pm