Irish broadcaster Premier Sports has secured a significant new rugby broadcasting deal, announcing it will show five exclusive matches from the upcoming Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship across the UK.
Details of the Premier Sports Six Nations Coverage
The streaming platform, which already holds UK rights to major competitions like the French Top 14 and the Investec Champions Cup, will broadcast one match per tournament round. Coverage begins on 7 February 2026 with Scotland's away fixture against Italy.
The full slate of matches to be shown on Premier Sports includes:
- Scotland vs Italy (7 February)
- Wales vs France
- Wales vs Scotland
- Scotland vs France
- Wales vs Italy
The broadcaster confirmed it will deploy its own presentation team and talent for all five fixtures, which run through to 14 March.
No Impact on Free-to-Air Coverage
Importantly, this new agreement does not alter the existing free-to-air arrangements for the championship. The BBC and ITV will continue to broadcast their full, shared portfolio of Six Nations matches without reduction.
This separation was highlighted by a recent successful bid from ITV for the new Nations Championship, which ensures every England international until 2029 remains on free-to-air television.
Strengthening the Rugby Proposition
Richard Sweeney, Chief Executive of Premier Sports, hailed the Six Nations as "one of the crown jewels of international rugby." He stated that adding these fixtures significantly bolsters the service's rugby offering for viewers, advertisers, and partners.
"We have seen significant audience and subscriber growth in the past year through our live coverage of the Investec Champions Cup and France's Top 14," Sweeney added. "Our ability to reach audiences both in the UK and internationally is a key part of Premier Sports' strategy."
The move is seen as a major step in Premier Sports' long-term ambition to become a primary home for rugby fans, though it has faced scrutiny over viewing figures for some of its European club rugby broadcasts in the past.
