Former Scotland and British & Irish Lions centre Chris Rea, who later became one of rugby’s most recognisable broadcasters, has opened up on the “six of the happiest years of my working life”, his secret cancer battle and why he believes RFU decisions in the early professional era continue to affect English rugby.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 82-year-old reflected on his time presenting BBC’s Rugby Special from 1988 to 1994, when the programme became must-watch viewing for rugby supporters across Britain.
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‘The six of the happiest years of my working life’
Rea helped transform Rugby Special from what he described as “the graveyard shift” into one of the BBC’s most popular sports programmes. By moving the show into a studio-based format with guests, interviews and features, viewing figures rose from around 200,000 to more than two million.
“It was a wonderful time,” Rea said. “In our day, the game was for the players... Now, of course, the game is about entertainment.”
He fondly recalled memorable features on future England stars Jeremy Guscott and Neil Back, which captured an era when top players still balanced rugby with full-time careers.
“The players were amateurs and it was accepted that they had other things that occupied their lives,” he added.
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Secret cancer battle while on air
In 1993, Rea was diagnosed with bowel, liver and lymph node cancer and given only a five per cent chance of surviving five years if surgery was unsuccessful.
“Thirty-three years ago, that was a death sentence,” he said.
Despite undergoing 52 weeks of chemotherapy, Rea continued presenting Rugby Special and travelled to New Zealand to cover the 1993 Lions tour carrying “a suitcase full of drugs”.
“I felt dreadful every Monday and for a couple of days after, but by the end of the week I was okay,” he said. “Nobody would have known, and that was a source of great pride.”
‘I was devastated’
Rea said he was “devastated” when the BBC outsourced Rugby Special in 1994, ending his role shortly after he completed treatment.
He later worked for ITV, The Independent on Sunday and World Rugby, but remains outspoken about the modern game.
Why England have lost their aura
Rea believes England missed a major opportunity by rejecting a central-contract model and argues they have never regained the dominance of their 2003 World Cup-winning side.
“Every time England take the field, they should be favourites, like New Zealand,” he said. “Just getting to finals is not enough.”
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Six legendary players scrapped as pundits by BBC, younger talent hired
The BBC’s rugby coverage has already seen some big names exit in recent years — and the changes aren’t over yet.
With the broadcaster confirming it will not show England games during the 2026 Six Nations, speculation is mounting over more of their pundits.
Here’s the rundown of who’s gone — and who might be next.
Andy Nicol
A former Scotland captain and scrum-half, Andy Nicol earned 37 caps for Scotland between 1993 and 2002. Nicol was part of Scotland’s Grand Slam-winning squad in 1999 and captained the national side on numerous occasions.
Known for his tactical acumen and leadership, Nicol became a respected voice in rugby punditry following his retirement. In 2023, after two decades with the BBC, he announced that Scotland’s clash with Wales would be his final broadcast, ending a long and respected tenure in rugby commentary.
Brian Moore
Brian Moore, an iconic figure in English rugby, was capped 64 times for England between 1987 and 1999 and played in two Rugby World Cups. Known for his combative style as a hooker and outspoken punditry, Moore brought sharp insight and personality to BBC coverage.
He departed from men’s Six Nations coverage in 2022 but continues to work on the Women’s Six Nations and recently the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, underlining his longstanding commitment to developing rugby at all levels.
Jeremy Guscott
Jeremy Guscott was a centre for England and the British & Irish Lions, earning 55 England caps between 1989 and 1997 and three Lions tours. Renowned for his elegance on the pitch and deep tactical knowledge, Guscott became a fixture in rugby broadcasting after retiring.
After more than 20 years with BBC Sport, he stepped away to focus on business interests, marking the end of a significant chapter for the broadcaster’s Six Nations coverage.
John Inverdale
John Inverdale is one of Britain’s most recognisable sports presenters, with decades of experience covering rugby, tennis, and the Olympics. He was the BBC’s anchor for Six Nations coverage for many years and became a familiar voice in living rooms across the UK.
Inverdale retired from the BBC’s reduced Six Nations production in recent years, leaving a gap in the presenting line-up as the broadcaster shifted to a single game per weekend.
Martin Johnson
A towering figure in English rugby, Martin Johnson captained England to Rugby World Cup glory in 2003 and earned 84 caps for his country between 1993 and 2005. Known for his uncompromising leadership, Johnson transitioned to punditry with the BBC after retiring.
With England matches moving to ITV from 2026, his future is uncertain. While he has not publicly confirmed a departure, speculation is mounting that Johnson’s pundit role may end alongside the rights shake-up.
Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies
Jonathan Davies, a Welsh rugby legend, enjoyed an illustrious career in both rugby union and rugby league. He earned 46 caps for Wales and toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, known for his speed, vision, and rugby intelligence.
Davies has been a fixture in BBC rugby commentary for decades, admired for his insight and enthusiasm. In recent interviews, he has hinted that the 2025 Six Nations could be his last for the broadcaster, signalling the possible end of another era.
The Changing Face of BBC Rugby
The BBC has already lost four major voices in recent years — and with the rights shake-up for England matches, two more could soon follow. Gabby Logan will still lead coverage in 2026, with pundits including Sam Warburton, John Barclay, Chris Paterson, and possibly Johnson and Davies.
But with broadcasting rights shifting and the pundit line-up shrinking, the BBC faces its biggest rugby challenge yet. The coming months could bring more departures — and the end of an era for its Six Nations coverage.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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