TNT Sports to broadcast 745 Game

TNT Sports will broadcast the The 745 Game, a rugby match created in tribute to Rob Burrow MBE, Ed Slater, Doddie Weir OBE. 

Burrow and Weir both passed away from Motor Neurone Disease, and Slater has been diagnosed with the condition. The game is named after their shirt numbers, 7, 4, and 5 respectively, and proceeds from it will go to MND charities, the 4Ed Foundation, The Rob Burrow Discretionary Fund & My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. 

The 745 Game will take place on 9 November, with its kick off time moved from 3pm to 5:40pm so it is immediately following the Wales v Argentina Nations Series fixture - which is also shown by TNT Sports. 

It will be played at Kingsholm Stadium, the home of Slater’s former club, Gloucester, with a hybrid of rugby union and rugby league rules and played by one team of former union players and one of former league players. It is the second year of the event, but the first time it is being shown on national television. 

Slater said: “This is a brilliant milestone to see The 745 Game broadcast on national television.  

“From funding extensive research to offering monetary grants for essential equipment & supporting smaller MND charities, this game aims to change lives. We are thankful to TNT Sports for helping us take this game, and its mission, to millions of people across the United Kingdom.”

Scott Young, EVP Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: ‘We are proud to provide the platform to tell such an important story in support of such a worthy cause. Through our passionate rugby audiences we are able to amplify the message to ensure it resonates as deeply as possible.

“But this is a message that transcends sport, this is about changing and impacting lives and we are privileged to play a small part to support the exemplary work Ed and the team do across the foundations all year round - it’s truly remarkable. We will do our utmost to encourage people to tune-in for what will no doubt be another great event.”