BBC sport presenter’s almost 7ft nephew set for Six Nations debut

Sunday, 01 March 2026 at 21:00

byRugby Rucker

The Balding sporting dynasty has a towering new star — quite literally.

At a colossal 6ft 9in, Jonno Balding has been called up to England’s Under-20 squad for the Six Nations, becoming the latest member of the famous family to make headlines in elite sport.

The 19-year-old second row, who plays for Gloucester Rugby, offers serious presence in the engine room. His height makes him a natural lineout target, while his growing physicality and mobility have marked him out as one of the brightest young prospects in his position.

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

Following in famous footsteps

Jonno is the nephew of celebrated broadcaster Clare Balding, one of the most recognisable figures in British sport.

Before becoming a household name with the BBC — fronting coverage of everything from the Olympics to Wimbledon and the Grand National — Clare was an accomplished amateur jockey.

Sport runs through the Balding family DNA.

Jonno’s father, Andrew Balding, is one of the country’s leading Flat trainers and operates the prestigious Kingsclere Stables in Hampshire. He has saddled numerous Group winners and remains a major force in British racing.

A proud rugby heritage

Jonno’s late grandfather, Ian Balding, also combined rugby and racing at the highest levels. He represented Bath Rugbybefore going on to enjoy a distinguished career as a trainer, handling horses owned by Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.

Ian, who passed away this month aged 87, was widely respected across both rugby and racing — and his brother Toby was also a trainer, further underlining the family’s sporting pedigree.

Now Jonno is carving out his own path on the rugby field.

‘Clare’s been a great support,’ Jonno told the Mail Online. ‘If I ever have any questions, she’s a good person to talk to, whether it’s contracts or things like that. She’s good for reading through them because she’s done a fair share of that!’

At 6ft 9in, he already boasts the physical tools modern second rows need. An England U20 Six Nations campaign will give him the perfect platform to test himself against Europe’s elite young forwards — and perhaps take the first steps towards senior honours.

From racecourses to rugby pitches to television studios, the Balding name continues to resonate across British sport.

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

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

— Australia vs Hong Kong China

Perth Stadium, Perth

2 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Chile
Perth Stadium, Perth

9 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Australia
Stadium Australia, Sydney

9 October 2027 — Chile vs Hong Kong China
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville

15 October 2027 — New Zealand vs Hong Kong China
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

16 October 2027 — Australia vs Chile
Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

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.