Paul O'Connell - Munster, Ireland and Lions secondrow and Setanta Sports' rugby ambassador- was on hand yesterday to launch the TV station's plans for the Rugby World Cup in France in September and October.

The network had beaten RTÉ to the rights for rugby union's biggest global tournament and took this opportunity to announce some of the faces that will greet those who follow the event on Setanta Sports.

Daire O'Brien, who hosts the rugby magazine programme The Front Row, will share the studio anchor work with Paul Dempsey, the former Sky Sports presenter now anchoring Setanta's soccer coverage.

There is a seasoned look to the list of commentators, which includes Fred Cogley, Nigel Starmer-Smith and Mark Robson, alongside the more youthful Connor Morris.

Setanta also confirmed two new analysts in Irish Times columnist and former Leinster coach Matt Williams and the legendary ex-Ireland and Lions captain Ciarán Fitzgerald.

The large team of pundits also includes Donal Lenihan, Liam Toland, Neil Francis and Emmett Byrne, which suggest analysis of forward play will not be lacking.

The station will show the entire tournament live. Setanta Ireland's chief executive, Niall Cogley, enthused, "We are delighted to have secured such an expert line-up for our coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

"Rugby continues to grow in popularity in Ireland and we are looking forward to bringing top-quality coverage of this world event to Irish sports fans.

"We will broadcast all 48 games live and have put a team in place that can give genuine insight into the tournament and make Rugby World Cup more enjoyable for Setanta viewers."

The coverage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup will begin on Friday September 7th, when the host nation, France, face Argentina at the Stade de France in Paris. Ireland's first game, against Namibia in Bordeaux, will be broadcast live on Sunday, September 9th.