The current broadcasting contract for the Six Nations expires this year, so I hosted a short debate in Parliament to talk about how important rugby union and the Six Nations are to all the nations of the United Kingdom – and to our local area.
Watching the tournament inspires the next generation of rugby players and fans, and if we need to pay to watch games in the future, I fear we could lose them to other sports.
The team behind the Six Nations has clarified that their tender process hasn’t yet started and so no decisions have been made. Today was an opportunity to emphasise the importance that any new deal retains free-to-air coverage and to give the sport the status it deserves.
