By Paul Jones
The first four Indigo Group Premiership rugby matches broadcast live online this season drew over 100,000 viewing sessions to S4C’s digital channels.
Despite the disruption of the pandemic on the league season, the Thursday night live Indigo Prem matches, shown on S4C Clic, YouTube and Facebook, are drawing healthy audiences.
Viewing sessions have exceeded 108,000 views over the first four matches, with content being viewed for a total of 11,399 hours.
Social media clips from each match have also been popular on the S4C Chwaraeon accounts, with the video of Aberavon scrum-half Rhodri Lewis’s try against Swansea being watched over 80,000 times.
A proud Lewis said: “It was an incredible feeling to score not only my first try for the Wizards, but a try like that in the Talbot Athletic Ground and in front of the home fans.
Am Gais! What a Try! @adidasUK get this man Rhodri Lewis some more of these fast boots 🔥 https://t.co/gks6Ddn8av
— Rhys Jones (@RhysapWilliam) December 9, 2021
“It’s given me a lot more confidence to express myself on the field, whether it’s with Aberavon or the Ospreys, and hopefully I can keep producing stuff like that on a regular basis.”
Lauren Jenkins hosts the Indigo Prem coverage with staunch Welsh club rugby supporter Phil Steele and Rhys ap Wiliam amongst the commentary team.
A host of current and former Wales internationals have provided match analysis, including Ken Owens, Sioned Harries, James Hook, Nicky Robinson and Andrew Coombs.
Jenkins said: “We’ve had some excellent contests in the Indigo Group Premiership so far this season and some outstanding tries, with Aberavon’s Rhodri Lewis’ try against Swansea one of the highlights.
“Thursday night matches mark the start of the rugby weekend and watching them under the floodlights, they do have a special feel to them. It’s been a bit of a stop-start season so far due to the pandemic, but it’s still very early days and there is so much more rugby to be enjoyed between now and the end of the season.”
CAIS YR WYTHNOS! 🏉
O Lanymddyfri i’r Brifddinas, roedd yna sawl cais arbennig yr #IndigoPrem 😍
Which #IndigoPrem try was your favourite of the week? 🤔👇@WelshRugbyUnion pic.twitter.com/ZAtIxuQIzN
— S4C Chwaraeon 🏴 (@S4Cchwaraeon) February 1, 2022
Live Indigo Prem coverage continues on Thursday 17 February with Newport v Pontypridd, which kicks off at 7.30pm.
The next set of live fixtures have also been confirmed, with Ebbw Vale v Newport being shown on Thursday 24 February, Swansea v Llandovery on Thursday 3 March and Bridgend v Pontypridd on Thursday 17 March.
Highlights of all matches will also be shown following each weekend on the S4C YouTube channel.
Live Online matches
Thursday 17 February Newport v Pontypridd 7.30pm
Thursday 24 February Ebbw Vale v Newport 7.30pm
Thursday 3 March Swansea v Llandovery 7.30pm
Thursday 17 March Bridgend v Pontypridd 7.30pm
How to watch Indigo Group Premiership matches online
You can watch matches live on the S4C Clic player on any smart device or computer, by going to www.s4c.cymru/clic, or by downloading the S4C Clic App; from App Store on an Apple device, or Google Play on an Android device. If you have a Smart TV or Smart TV Device (such as Amazon Fire TV Stick), you can watch the game via the S4C YouTube channel.
The games will also be shown on the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/s4cchwaraeon, the WRU Facebook page, www.facebook.com/welshrugbyunion, or on S4C’s YouTube channel, at www.youtube.com/s4c.
You can watch the games with English commentary on S4C Clic or on the S4C YouTube page.