For the first time in the history of the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship, one match per week will be broadcast live on Sky and available free-to-air on Prime for the 2022 season.

With the Meads and Lochore Cup finals broadcast previously, Sky has been working towards increasing the coverage of provincial rugby. Last year, the entire 2021 season of Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse was available live and on demand on Sky.

The Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship had a great 2021, with a selection of high-profile players taking the field and Sky broadcasting six matches explains Steve Lancaster, New Zealand Rugby General Manager Community Rugby.

'We want to build on last year and provide fans with more opportunities to tune in as well as showcase all levels of provincial rugby across the entire country. To lock in the live broadcast of one Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship match a week with the support of SKY as a partner is fantastic,” says Steve.

'Sport connects New Zealanders across the motu and across communities of all kinds," says Sky's Head of Sport Partnerships Adam Crothers. "And, from grassroots to international competitions, we offer it all.

"We know the important role sport plays in Kiwis' lives. Local sport like Heartland rugby helps communities thrive and prosper and we are privileged to play our part.”

The 2022 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship starts on August 20, with eight rounds followed by semi-finals and the Meads and Lochore Cup finals. The below matches will be live on Sky and available free-to-air on Prime.

Round 1: South Canterbury v Thames Valley, 20 August at 2.30PM live on Sky and Prime
Round 1: Wairarapa-Bush vs. North Otago, 21 August at 7.05PM live on Sky
Round 2: Thames Valley vs. West Coast, 1.00PM live on Sky, delayed on Prime*
Round 3: Buller v Poverty Bay, 12.05PM live on Sky and Prime
Round 4: Poverty Bay v Ngāti Porou East Coast (Bill Osborne Taonga match), 2.30PM live on Sky and Prime
Round 5: North Otago v Horowhenua Kapiti, 2.30PM live on Sky and Prime
Round 6: King Country v Ngāti Porou East Coast, 2.30PM live on Sky and Prime
Round 7: Mid Canterbury v South Canterbury, 2.30PM, live on Sky and Prime
Round 8: Whanganui v Mid Canterbury, 2.30PM live on Sky and Prime
Finals: Meads and Lochore Cup finals live on Sky**

For the latest 2022 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship draw, click here.

*Time to be confirmed
**Time and location of matches to be confirmed