BBC Loses Rights to Show England Six Nations Matches

Wednesday, 11 March 2026 at 18:55

bySteven Smith

The BBC has lost the rights to broadcast England’s matches in the men’s Six Nations under a new four-year deal that will run until 2029.

The updated agreement, announced jointly by the BBC and ITV, reshapes how the tournament will be shown on free-to-air television in the UK.

⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!

England Moves to ITV

ITV will become the exclusive home of England games in the Six Nations, broadcasting all of the team’s fixtures live. In total, ITV will carry ten matches per season, covering every England game and a selection of other high-profile encounters.

This means that for the first time in decades, the BBC will not screen any England men’s Six Nations games.

Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

BBC Retains a Share of Coverage

The BBC will continue to show five matches each season, focusing on Scotland and Wales fixtures not involving England. While this represents a reduced slice of the men’s tournament, the corporation will keep comprehensive rights for other competitions.

The BBC remains the home of the Women’s Six Nations and the Under-20 Six Nations across television, digital and online platforms, alongside exclusive radio commentary of all matches on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio.

Free-to-Air Guarantee

Despite the changes, fans will still be able to watch the men’s Six Nations live without a paywall. The joint partnership between the two broadcasters guarantees free-to-air coverage of every match through to 2029.

A Shift in Tradition

The BBC has been synonymous with Six Nations coverage for generations, but the new split underscores how major sporting rights are increasingly shared between broadcasters.

For English rugby supporters, ITV will now be the destination for every key clash, including the Calcutta Cup, the Grand Slam deciders, and matches against France, Ireland, Wales and Italy.

The change marks a significant moment in UK sports broadcasting — one that highlights both the enduring appeal of the Six Nations and the shifting balance of power between the country’s traditional free-to-air broadcasters.

Gabby Logan: Staying Positive

“You know I love Six Nations rugby - I think I once called it the perfect sporting championships,” she wrote. “Taking us around six amazing capitals from winter to spring, the regional rivalry, extraordinary sporting encounters, big hits and collisions, flair and finesse. It never disappoints. So happy that we get to be part of it for four more years.”

Rugby World Cup 2027 Full Draw: England and Wales meet again

England’s recent emphatic win over Wales adds extra spice to their upcoming meeting at the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup, where the old rivals have been drawn together once again in the pool stage.

The expanded 24-team tournament will be played across Australia from 1 October 2027, with six pools of four teams and a new round-of-16 knockout phase. With fixtures and venues now confirmed by World Rugby, attention quickly turns to how each group will unfold.

Pool A — New Zealand, Australia (H), Chile, Hong Kong China

Group summary

Pool A features tournament hosts Australia and three-time champions New Zealand, making it one of the headline groups of the opening phase. Chile and Hong Kong China will be targeting historic results, while the trans-Tasman clash between Australia and New Zealand is expected to be one of the most watched pool matches of the tournament.

Fixtures

Pool B — South Africa, Italy, Georgia, Romania

Group summary

Defending champions South Africa headline Pool B and begin their campaign against Italy. Georgia continue to establish themselves as a consistent World Cup presence, while Romania return aiming to challenge for third place and possible qualification via rankings.

Fixtures

3 October 2027 — South Africa vs Italy
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
3 October 2027 — Georgia vs Romania
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville
10 October 2027 — South Africa vs Georgia
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
11 October 2027 — Italy vs Romania
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
17 October 2027 — Italy vs Georgia
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle
17 October 2027 — South Africa vs Romania
Perth Stadium, Perth

Pool C — Argentina, Fiji, Spain, Canada

Group summary

Pool C blends South American consistency with Pacific flair. Argentina enter as favourites, while Fiji’s attacking threat makes them dangerous opponents for any side. Spain return to the World Cup looking to make an impact, and Canada continue their rebuilding process.

Fixtures

3 October 2027 — Argentina vs Canada
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
4 October 2027 — Fiji vs Spain
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle
10 October 2027 — Fiji vs Canada
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
10 October 2027 — Argentina vs Spain
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
16 October 2027 — Argentina vs Fiji
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
17 October 2027 — Spain vs Canada
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville

Pool D — Ireland, Scotland, Uruguay, Portugal

Group summary

Ireland and Scotland lead Pool D in what shapes as a tightly contested group. Uruguay and Portugal bring speed and tactical variety, with qualification likely to be decided by fine margins, discipline, and bonus points.

Fixtures

3 October 2027 — Scotland vs Uruguay
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
4 October 2027 — Ireland vs Portugal
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
10 October 2027 — Ireland vs Scotland
Perth Stadium, Perth
11 October 2027 — Uruguay vs Portugal
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle
17 October 2027 — Ireland vs Uruguay
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
17 October 2027 — Scotland vs Portugal
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

Pool E — France, Japan, United States, Samoa

Group summary

France headline Pool E after reaching the previous final, with Japan expected to challenge strongly for second place. Samoa and the United States provide physicality and athleticism, making this one of the more unpredictable groups.

Fixtures

2 October 2027 — France vs United States
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
3 October 2027 — Japan vs Samoa
Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle
9 October 2027 — United States vs Samoa
Perth Stadium, Perth
9 October 2027 — France vs Japan
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane
15 October 2027 — Japan vs United States
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
17 October 2027 — France vs Samoa
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

Pool F — England, Wales, Tonga, Zimbabwe

Group summary

Pool F is defined by the renewed rivalry between England and Wales, who will meet in one of the final pool fixtures in Sydney. Tonga’s physical style and Zimbabwe’s return to the World Cup add further intrigue, with third place potentially enough to reach the knockout stage depending on rankings.