Free-to-view Six Nations is key to ensuring grassroots sport thrives
Here, ahead of a debate in the Senedd later today, Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth argues why the Six Nations championship must remain free to view amid reports that it will be placed behind a paywall...
TAKING the Six Nations rugby games off free-to-air television poses a risk to an important part of our nations’ culture and a risk to grassroots sports in Wales too.
A few weeks ago, the Rugby Paper and the Western Mail both reported that Six Nations games could go behind a paywall if a new £300m deal is struck with Sky.
Since then, more than 5,000 people have signed Plaid Cymru’s online petition calling for the games to stay on free-to-view television.
We’ve also written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, arguing that the Six Nations should be given the same special status in the Broadcasting Act 1976 as the FA Cup final and the Olympic Games – that is, they should be guaranteed to be free to watch for everyone.
In no uncertain terms, for these iconic games to move beyond a paywall would be nothing short of disastrous for the game of rugby in Wales.
Currently, an astounding 82% of the people in Wales watch the Six
Nations games. However, much like the fate that befell cricket, if Six Nations games are locked behind a paywall, viewing figures will plummet, as will any awareness of the game on a national and local level.
Since England sold the rights to their games to Sky a few years ago, millions of English rugby fans have been unable to watch their own team play.
I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interests for the same thing to happen to Welsh rugby.
There are many in Wales who cannot afford satellite television and watching the games in a pub is not always accessible or comfortable for everyone – including elderly citizens and young people.
Rugby is an integral part of cultural and civic identity in Wales and the ability to enjoy the sport should be as accessible as possible to the widest range of our nation’s population.
But more than that, access to national rugby coverage is key to ensuring that young people participate in grassroots rugby.
As a juniors rugby coach myself, coaching Clwb Rygbi Llangefni, I appreciate that clubs the length and breadth of Wales are the lifeblood of rugby and are a force for good in their local communities. They’re where giants like Alun Wyn Jones and Siwan Lillicrap made their name.
Take free-to-view coverage of the Six Nations away and you take away the access young boys and girls have to their idols.
Rugby is not our only national sport, but it does provide enjoyment to thousands of fans and inspires countless young people to pursue their own ambitions in the game, which is essential for the health of the game at a grassroots level.
We can’t allow ourselves to be priced out of our own culture and our own sport and deprive future generations of entry to sport.
Coverage of Wales’ Six Nations rugby games must continue to be available for all to view free of charge, and the Welsh Government must do everything in its power to achieve this.
We stand firm in our belief that Welsh rugby is not for sale and that it belongs to everyone in Wales.