AM’s plea to keep rugby free on TV

HUW Irranca-Davies says it is important that coverage of the Six Nations rugby tournament is kept on free-to-view television, writes Michael Prosser.

The Ogmore AM is anxious that the broadcasting rights for the tournament are not lost to pay-to-view TV.

He said at the National Assembly that this “incredible competition–- the crown jewel of international rugby” faces a real threat of disappearing behind a pay wall.

Mr Irranca-Davies aid: “The UK Government has classified the Six Nations as a secondtier event of national importance which can be provided behind a pay wall by a commercial pay-to-view provider.

“It may subsequently be offered to secondary providers, maybe a day after the match, maybe in a highlights programme after midnight, in midweek, or maybe not at all.

“This isn’t good enough. Faced with the reluctance of the Government to give a cast-iron guarantee of a group one national significance tournament, Welsh Labour MPs have written to the Welsh Rugby Union to urge them to do all in their power to influence the forthcoming negotiations.

“We know that from recent history the impact of putting, for example, cricket behind a Sky pay wall was to see participation rates in cricket plummet in the following decade.

“When Sky took Formula 1 behind a pay wall, audience figures in the UK crashed.”

Mr Irranca-Davies said there is no wish to see grass-roots participation in rugby decimated or audiences for the game destroyed by a short-sighted move to make a “fast buck” by charging to see Wales play in the Six Nations.

Government Minister Rebecca Evans said the Welsh Government agrees it is vital that the Six Nations remains on terrestrial television.

She said: “It is easy to underestimate the benefits we derive from ensuring that these major sporting occasions are available to the widest number of people.”