Siya Kolisi slams ITV's coverage of the 2026 Six Nations

Friday, 06 February 2026 at 10:59

byRugby Rucker

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has slammed ITV’s decision to introduce in-play advertising during scrum resets in the Six Nations, branding it “disrespectful to the game”.

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The UK broadcaster trialled the controversial innovation during Thursday night’s tournament opener between France and Ireland, with adverts appearing on a split screen while the live action was muted.

The move immediately drew criticism from across the rugby world. Ahead of the match, Springbok head coach posted on X: , Kolisi did not hold back.

“O shit Daan, wat nou (what now)?” — a reaction that quickly gained traction online.

Speaking to IOL Sport

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“That is disrespecting the game. That is really bad,” he said.

“The build-up to scrums is part of the game, and I don’t know why people would run away from it.”

Kolisi also questioned where the line would be drawn if broadcasters continued down the same path.

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ITV showing split screen adverts during tonight's Six Nations rugby game.

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“We say rugby is a game for everyone, but are we now also going to stop and have ad breaks when Cheslin Kolbe is stepping people?” he added.

“That is not fair. We want to watch the game.”

With fan backlash growing and high-profile voices speaking out, ITV’s experiment looks set to remain one of the most contentious talking points of this year’s Six Nations.