STATEMENT: The bid to keep Six Nations on free TV fails

Get your tickets for the 2024 Six Nations at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace. Ticket start from £27.

For Group A events like the Olympic or Paralympic Games, public service broadcasters must be given a chance to acquire rights under fair and reasonable terms when live rights are available, although there is no obligation on broadcasters to make a purchase or on rights holders to accept any offers.

The Six Nations falls under Group B, where only the provision for highlights to be offered to free-to-air broadcasters exists.

Despite traditionally being broadcast on free-to-air television, uncertainty looms over the event's fate after the conclusion of the current BBC and ITV deal at the end of the 2025 tournament.

BBC executives have raised concerns about the potential loss of the competition after next year, as paid broadcasters may present competing Unions with more lucrative offers.

"The Government believes that the current list of events works well to deliver the best outcome and that it strikes an appropriate balance and therefore we have no plans to undertake a full review of the list," its response to the Welsh Affairs Committee stated.

"Listing an event in either Group A or B does not guarantee that an event will be broadcast or available free-to-air. Rights holders are not required to sell rights to listed events and broadcasters are not obliged to purchase them or to show the events. 

"The legislation sets out to ensure that where live rights to a Group A listed event are made available, they must be offered for purchase by a qualifying service - it does not require that a qualifying service is the final purchaser."

The chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, Stephen Crabb, said: "Welsh broadcasting is a major success and can attract international partners to invest and produce high quality programming that can be enjoyed by international audiences. 

"But as our Committee made clear in October, broadcasting in Wales can be even better, including the protection and provision of more Welsh language content and securing major sporting events free-to-air. 

"While it is of course disappointing that the UK Government does not feel it necessary to amend the listed events to include the Six Nations, the general support it is offering to the Welsh broadcasting sector is warmly welcomed." 

This year's Six Nations gets under way on February 2 when France host Ireland in Paris.

In light of Farrell's exit, Saracens are currently exploring available options to address the void left by the departure of their influential fly-half.

In his usual fullback role, he showcases exceptional skills, yet his versatility extends to playing as a fly-half, winger, or inside centre.

Having initially joined Saracens on a brief stint in 2019, the playmaker missed the opportunity to leave a lasting mark when called up by South Africa as a replacement for the injured Jesse Kriel during the Rugby World Cup pool stage.

Since then, he has evolved into a formidable player, making him an excellent addition to the Saracens squad.

Lauded as a fly-half with sharp intellect both on and off the field, Garbisi is recognized for his astute rugby skills and decision-making prowess.

Balancing his rugby pursuits with a commitment to law studies, the young talent has already achieved notable milestones in his professional rugby journey, signaling a bright future in the sport.

As a current member of Montpellier, the prospect of him stepping in for Farrell makes for an enticing and exciting possibility.

controversial option. The ex-Ireland international, previously implicated in allegations of rape and sexual assault in 2017 alongside Stuart Olding, Blane McIlroy, and Rory Harrison, was arrested and questioned.

Despite being found not guilty in March 2018 and resuming his rugby career with Perpignan, Jackson remains a divisive figure in Ireland and England, particularly following his recent tenure with London Irish.

With the dissolution of the Exiles, Jackson made a move to Lyon. Now, there are indications that he might be making a return to the Premiership, potentially filling the void left by Farrell, according to The Rugby Paper.

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

Facing an uncertain future at Gloucester with contract renewal prospects looking bleak, the son of Scotland's rugby icon Gavin has grappled with injuries since becoming Kingsholm's marquee signing in 2022.

Despite the setbacks, his undeniable talent shines through.

A Scotland international, he might just be the kind of player Saracens could consider taking a gamble on, given his potential to be an exceptional talent at his peak.