SKY TV last night pledged to broadcast top-class rugby at least once a month for the next five years - and announced it had secured the rights for rugby union's European Cup for five years.

It means the satellite station has an unrivalled grip on world coverage of the sport and is able to broadcast up to 80 games every season.

Sky already has the rights to all of England's internationals played at Twickenham, all England tour matches in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, England's Pilkington Cup, Courage League and the tri-nations series between the southern hemisphere's big three.

Sam Chisholm Chief Executive of Sky TV, said: "We now have the perfect rugby package. Sky has the best international and club games from across the globe - the crown jewels of the sport - for 12 months of the year.

"After securing the rights to all England internationals at Twlckenham, the European Cup was our priority. This new competition is set to become the most significant tournament in the northern hemisphere.

"The home nation's are determined to raise standards and to challenge the domination of the southern hemisphere and the European Cup is vital to this plan."

The opening rounds of the 1997 European Cup competition will be, played in September and will feature 20 club teams from England," France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

The agreement, with European Rugby Cup Ltd, covers the competition from 1997-98 to 2001/2.