Sunset+Vine named digital partner of European Professional Club Rugby

UK independent sports production and media company Sunset + Vine has been named among European Professional Club Rugby’s (EPCR) digital partners with a brief to create content promoting the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournament broadcasts and the EPCR European Player of the Year campaign.

The two European tournaments restart this weekend with the Round of 16 stages. The newly created Sunset+Vine Content Department has created innovative promos and trailers as well as beginning work on the European Player of the Year content.

The contract will run for remainder of the shortened 2021 season plus the 21/22 season and will see the Sunset+Vine team – led by head of content Helena Sykes – producing over 150 videos for a range of EPCR’s owned, earned and shared platforms, targeting rugby fans across the world.

‘This is a significant win for our new content team,” said Sykes. “The department has been set up to deliver content right across the spectrum, from network commissions, to VOD films and features for our streaming clients as well as social media stories, edits and promos. We are delighted to be commissioned to work with EPCR at a time when European rugby is increasing in profile and popularity.’

François Vergnol, marketing & commercial director at EPCR, said: “The Heineken Champions Cup is the pinnacle of club rugby. Reflecting that through dynamic marketing video content for use across a range of earned, owned and shared channels is key to our continuing growth of the reach and engagement of the tournament, as well as the Challenge Cup. We are excited to be extending our collaboration with Sunset+Vine, who have considerable experience of working with us on delivery of the tournaments to homes across the world.”

Sunset+Vine is a significant force in the broadcast of rugby. In the UK the company produces Premiership and European rugby for BT Sport and Channel 4 as well as the Autumn Nations Cup for Prime Video and the Pro14s with Premier Sport. Sunset+Vine is also World Rugby’s host broadcast partner for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens.

The company’s wider sporting portfolio includes Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games host broadcast, Premier League football for BT Sport and Prime Video plus Europa League for BT Sport, and contracts with FEI (equestrian), ICC (cricket), Mobil1 (motorsport), Red Bull (mountain biking) and UEFA (Euros).