Sky Sports has inked a new four-year deal with SANZAAR for extensive coverage of rugby union from the Southern hemisphere.

The agreement will provide at least 150 fixtures a year out of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina, including Home Nations Summer Tours, The Rugby Championship, Super Rugby, South Africa's The Currie Cup and New Zealand's The National Provincial Championship.

"We welcome Sky aboard once again as our broadcast partner in the UK and Ireland," said Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR.

"Sky has been a broadcast partner of SANZAAR for a very long time and we have a very strong and professional relationship that has seen our tournaments delivered into this major rugby market.

"Super Rugby Pacific continues to be a world class tournament featuring some of the best players in the world.

"It is followed by The Rugby Championship when current world champions South Africa will battle the All Blacks, Wallabies and Pumas for southern hemisphere supremacy."

Sky Sports' rugby coverage is primarily available through the Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena channels.