TNT Sports are bringing a ground-breaking innovation to Gallagher Premiership Rugby thanks to the launch of a “PlayerMic” this weekend – and Bristol Bears will become the first team in the competition to wear it!

The new TNT Sports technology, supported by Premiership Rugby and our clubs, will take sports fans to places they have never been before by bringing supporters closer to the action.

The wearable tech will be worn by a Bears player in the huge derby against Bath Rugby, with a sell-out crowd expected at Ashton Gate for the West Country clash this Saturday (KO 3.05pm).

Working with Premiership Rugby, World Rugby, The RFU and The RPA on the launch – TNT Sports continue to help the game reach new audiences.

For the first time ever in the Gallagher Premiership, TNT Sports viewers will be able to get unique insight into the physicality of the sport as well as hear about the high-pressure decision making and communication that occurs on the field of play in elite rugby.

A three-person team, featuring a dedicated camera operator, EVS replay editor and producer, will monitor the audio feed throughout the match to bring viewers all the best insight during breaks in play and in sequenced packages at half time and post-match.

Elsewhere, Gloucester Rugby’s home fixture against Sale Sharks on Sunday (KO 3pm) will also see a new and improved ‘Ref Cam’ introduced to the TNT Sports broadcast.

Luke Pearce – the referee for the Gallagher Premiership Final 2023 – will wear the camera, offering TNT Sports viewers a unique close-up view of all the action.

The same camera will be worn by a selected player in the build-up to the game, offering a unique storytelling tool and giving viewers a players’ view of the warm-up.

These broadcast innovations are the latest example of wearable technology to be embraced by Premiership Rugby, having overseen the introduction of instrumented mouthguards to the league ahead of the 2022/23 season.

This season has also seen the introduction of the shot clock across all Premiership Rugby grounds, letting fans and televisions viewers the watch the countdown on penalties and conversion attempt time limits for the first time.