TNT Sports is on the brink of finalising a significant two-year agreement to showcase the Autumn Internationals, marking the culmination of a standalone deal era ahead of a highly-anticipated mega auction for television rights for both the new Nations Championship and the revered Six Nations tournaments starting in 2026.
Per reports from the Mail Online, negotiations have progressed significantly towards sealing the deal, poised to deliver a thrilling array of matchups later this year.
Among the tantalising fixtures, England is slated to host powerhouse teams such as Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand at Twickenham. Additionally, the revered All Blacks are set to clash with Ireland and France.
In a departure from the previous three years where Amazon Prime held the broadcasting reins for the Autumn Internationals, including the unique circumstances of behind-closed-doors matches during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, the streaming giant appears to be sitting out this round of negotiations.
Tough year for England:
ollowing England’s defeat at Scotland last weekend things will get no easier for Steve Borthwick with one journalist predicting England could lose the rest of their games this calendar year.
Ollie Phillips of City A.M. believes it ‘could be one long year’ for fans of the Red Rose.
He wrote: “I just question whether Borthwick is an international coach. I see him like Exeter Chiefs’ Rob Baxter, whereby he needs day-to-day nurturing time with players rather than flash in the pan camps where the pressure is higher.
“After all, his culture-centric approach was key to Leicester Tigers’ Premiership success two years back.”
Six Nations remaining fixtures:
Woodward now among the favourites to replace Steve Borthwick as England boss
In the event that Borthwick is relieved of his duties after leading the nation to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, RUCK presents five potential coaches who could be considered as replacements.
Who could replace Steve Borthwick at Twickenham?
5. Sir Clive Woodward – 20/1
Woodward is the World Cup winning Head Coach who led England’s rugby players to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003.
A former England International and British & Irish Lion himself, prior to his full time coaching career Clive established a successful business career working for nine years with Xerox in the UK and Australia before establishing his own small finance and leasing company.
During Clive’s tenure as Head Coach England moved from 6th in the world to being the number one ranked team, winning every trophy an England team can win.