Watch Leinster v Cardiff: Graham Little headlines the 1,000th United Rugby Championship broadcast

The 1,000th broadcast of the United Rugby Championship (URC) lands on Sunday 10 October 2026, and it is a landmark one: coverage of the Leinster v Cardiff Rugby union match begins at 19:45 UK time, presented by Graham Little with Stephan Ferris, Simon Zebo and Tom Shanklin as the weekend's special guest pundits. For the first time in the series' history, the live feed is beamed through Premier Sports 1 UK HD, a full-definition channel that gives every swing of the union a crisp, studio-grade view.

The broadcast is split across two platforms so it can reach viewers wherever they are tuned in. The Irish side of the field runs on the NOW Ireland channel, while the broader UK and overseas audience follows along on the Premier Player and Premier Sports 1 UK HD feeds. Those three channels work together to cover the whole match, so whether you are tracking Leinster from home or Cardiff from a distance abroad, there is a clear line on the action.

The presenter: Graham Little

Graham Little, born 12 April 1978, is a freelance Northern Irish television presenter and journalist who has built up a reputation for covering sports programmes on the big stage. He is well known for fronting cycling and golf coverage, having presented and commentated on those tournaments across Sky Sports and Premier Sports as well as a number of other broadcasting partners. His social media bio reads "travel, adventure and sports: writing, producing, presenting", a tidy summary of the kind of work he signs off.

He is also the older brother of Andrew Little, a striker from Dumbarton who competes as a Northern Ireland international, which gives him a natural affinity for the union world he is now presenting. On his commentator profile he lists Stephan Ferris, Simon Zebo, Tom Shanklin and the reporting team as the people he has worked with most, so this weekend's lineup is one he knows well.

The pundits

Stephan Ferris is one of the most frequent guests in Premier Sports' live coverage roster. The team behind this week's broadcast has grown to a 30-strong crew of leading commentators, with special guests joining every weekend, and Stephan Ferris is among the names most regularly called on to read the field.

Simon Zebo, born 16 March 1990 in Cork, is a former rugby union player who once played as a wing or fullback for clubs including Munster and Racing 92, as well as for Ireland and the British. He attended Presentation Brothers College and has since built up a sizeable international career across both club and tournament scenes, making him a familiar face at the kind of union match he is now commentating on.

Tom Shanklin, born 24 November 1979 in Harrow, London, is a former Welsh rugby union player who played outside centre for Cardiff Blues and Wales. His long-standing partnership with the Cardiff side of this week's match means he is particularly well placed to follow that team's progress through the field.

The reporter

Keeping the narrative clear on the ground is Sarah Mulkerrins, the reporter tasked with tracking the match as it plays out. Her role complements the pundits above, giving viewers a live read on how Leinster and Cardiff are faring against each other as the clock runs down.

Why this broadcast matters

Premier Sports has been preparing hard for this 1,000th broadcast, and the move to a dedicated HD channel is a sign of how seriously they are taking the milestone. With Graham Little presenters, three seasoned pundits reading the field and a reporter on the ground, this is set to be one of the most complete union coverage packages of the season.

So tune in ahead of the 19:45 UK start on Sunday 10 October 2026, pick your channel between NOW Ireland, Premier Player and Premier Sports 1 UK HD, and watch as Leinster and Cardiff face off in what is officially the series' thousandth live broadcast.

Article generated: 10 October 2026, 19:47 GMT