British & Irish Lions "Electronic Media Guide"

>> Sportstat

Sportstat (Sports Statistics & Information Systems Ltd) was founded in 2000 by two brothers - Hugh & Ben Copping, pioneers in the development of Sports Data Management.

The concept was to improve and justify, the accuracy of data available to media and broadcasters within the game of Rugby Union.

The company has recently undergone a name change from BH Designs Ltd, highlighting the companies commitment to providing Quality Sporting Data to the International Media and Broadcasters alike.

>> Brief History

Utilising the core skills within the business, the company targeted the 2001 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia to develop the Media Info' System. Working closely with the Daily Telegraph, the company developed a Sport.Telegraph microsite, BritishLionsRugby.com. As the only available resource on the web, the site contained the complete history of the British Lions and proved a huge success in generating interesting features for editorial content.

Following on from the success of the 2001 Lions Tour, the company teamed up with the International Rugby Board in Dublin, working on an extensive Media System for Rugby World Cup 2003. Working closely with the IRB and RWC Partners, Sportstat developed the 'International Rugby Info' System' (IRIS), a system containing the complete playing history of each of the 20 Nations that participated in RWC'03. The system again proved invaluable in providing the RWC Media and Broadcasters with complete, up to date and reliable information.

>> Services

Professional Rugby Union is very much in its infancy. Having survived for over 100 years on its amateur status and goodwill from players and fans alike, the game is now coming to terms with the commercial realities, necessary for its development.

WIth improvements being carried out across every discipline, services to the Media and Broadcasters are paramount to the games success. Sportstat' services include;