Six Nations Thursday start is smart from organisers February 5, 2026 It feels slightly odd to be looking forward to the Six Nations beginning this evening when it is only Thursday. That’s because Ireland’s trip to take on champions France in Paris has been brought forward to tonight to ensure there’s no clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan tomorrow. At first [...]
Exclusive: Welsh Rugby Union risks £4m hit as 55,000 Six Nations tickets unsold February 5, 2026 The embattled Welsh Rugby Union is facing a £4m hit from this year’s Six Nations, with more than 55,000 tickets still unsold for their three home fixtures. The financially troubled nation stands to lose out on around £3.8m in ticket revenue over the next two months, with more than 18,000 seats still free for their [...]
ITV in-game Six Nations ads will keep sport free-to-air, experts say February 4, 2026 ITV’s introduction of advertising during matches at the Six Nations is a sign of things to come but will keep more sport on free-to-air television, say experts. Starting tomorrow, the broadcaster will show split-screen adverts during pauses in play at this year’s competition, such as when scrums are being reset. It has led to concerns [...]
Welsh Rugby missed out on £45m in previous Principality Stadium deal January 31, 2026 The Welsh Rugby Union lost £45m from underselling the naming rights to the Principality Stadium, according to a new report. A 10-year deal with insurer Principality is expected to conclude this year, with the decade-long cost of sponsoring Wales’ biggest stadium widely reported to be £1m per season. That’s despite research from The Sponsor shared [...]
Six Nations must move match to US for sake of international game January 30, 2026 The months of February and March really are rugby’s golden period; when the world stops to watch the Six Nations. England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy all going at it over five rounds really shows off the best of the sport. It makes money, it is attractive to private equity and fans adore the [...]
Exclusive: Parliament must scrutinise Prem Rugby franchise plans, MP says January 27, 2026 The government has been called upon to scrutinise Prem Rugby’s franchise plan, which promises to be the biggest shake-up of the domestic game since professionalisation. It comes as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also accused of passing the buck over Covid loans to English professional rugby. Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello told [...]
England rugby games on free-to-air television until 2030 January 26, 2026 All England rugby matches will be shown on free-to-air television until at least 2030 after ITV snapped up the rights for the Nations Championships. The new competition, which starts this summer, will see 12 major nations compete against teams from the opposite hemisphere before a finals weekend in London in November. ITV reportedly bid £80m [...]
Castore add Australia to growing rugby portfolio January 23, 2026 Manchester-headquartered Castore has signed a five-year deal with rugby union’s Wallabies, which will see the sports apparel brand on Australia’s shirts at their home World Cup. “The new agreement will see the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Australian men’s and women’s sevens teams and Australian pathways teams proudly wearing Castore-issued sportswear from January 2026,” a statement read. The [...]
Someone put out the bin fire that is the Welsh Rugby Union January 23, 2026 Every sporting body goes through its annus horribilis, when nothing seems to go right and the public demands answers as a result. But the Welsh Rugby Union and the sport more broadly across the Severn Bridge is into what feels like its fifth consecutive year of horror and a complete inability to shift the narrative. [...]
Two top flight clubs in same league to be owned by same firm after major sport decision January 22, 2026 Two top flight sporting clubs in the same league are set to be owned by the same private stakeholder after a major decision was made in Cardiff. United Rugby Championship teams Ospreys and Cardiff will be owned by the same firm, Y11, after the Welsh Rugby Union agreed to sell their holding in the Cardiff [...]