The Six Nations is ready to return to tv screens, with the BBC and ITV once more sharing protection of the annual championship.
The two terrestrial broadcasters’ mixed deal runs till the tip of the 2025 version.
Quite a few acquainted faces will present professional perception and evaluation throughout the Six Nations marketing campaign, together with some key new additions.
ITV stalwart Sir Clive Woodward, in the meantime, introduced forward of the beginning of the event that he would not function because the 2003 World Cup-winning coach elects to concentrate on different enterprise pursuits.
Here is who you’ll be able to count on to see and hear all through the Six Nations.
ITV
ITV had been first to call their tv line-up, shortly after information of Woodward’s departure. Presenters Mark Pougatch and Jill Douglas will entrance their protection, with Nick Mullins and Miles Harrison offering lead commentary voices. Former England worldwide Topsy Ojo will function as each a pundit and reporter, with ITV veteran Gabriel Clarke additionally offering on-the-ground stories.
Recently-retired Wales fly half Dan Biggar is added to their punditry roster, with ex-France hooker Benjamin Kayser again on board having primarily labored for French tv throughout the World Cup.
ITV Pundits
Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson kicks the successful drop-goal for England within the 2003 Rugby World Cup ultimate
(PA Archive)
Wilkinson’s World Cup-winning drop aim in 2003 stays the signature second in English males’s rugby historical past. An occasional teaching advisor to the nationwide staff, the previous fly half gained 97 caps and completed his membership profession forging a dynasty on the French south coast with Toulon.
Lawrence Dallaglio
Number eight Dallaglio was a key chief within the World Cup-winning England aspect and is now a daily on ITV and TNT Sports. He lately helped write The Boys of Winter, a retrospective on England’s 2003 triumph, with journalist Owen Slot.
Maggie Alphonsi
Ex-flanker Alphonsi was a key cog in England’s 2014 World Cup win below Gary Street, and has change into a well-recognized face on ITV and Sky since retirement, in addition to working as a daily columnist for The Telegraph. She was the primary feminine winner of Rugby Union Writers’ Club’s prestigious Pat Marshall Memorial Award.
Ugo Monye
Ugo Monye will probably be a part of ITV’s staff
(PA Archive)
The busy Monye will mix his work for ITV together with his common duties as a co-host of the BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast, and work for governing physique World Rugby. The former England worldwide has solid a profitable, diverse post-playing profession, together with a stint as a captain on Question of Sport and an look on Strictly Come Dancing.
Brian O’Driscoll
Regarded as one of many biggest centres in historical past and maybe Irish rugby’s most gifted particular person participant, O’Driscoll is a skillful pundit, too. The three-time Six Nations participant of the championship gained 133 caps for his nation and appeared on 4 British and Irish Lions excursions.
Rory Best
The Ulsterman, who captained Ireland on the World Cup in 2019, affords a measured tackle proceedings and the experience that comes with 102 check begins at hooker.
Jamie Roberts
Hulking former Wales centre Roberts’s profession took in stops in England, France, South Africa and Australia, and the 36-year-old is effectively certified off the pitch, too, incomes a level in medication at Cardiff University and finishing a Master’s in medical science at Cambridge.
Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar retired from worldwide rugby after the World Cup (David Davies/PA)
(PA Wire)
A primary Six Nations since saying his retirement sees Biggar step into the punditry world. A fierce competitor on the pitch could effectively show a shrewd analyst off it, having already impressed with a sequence of columns for the Daily Mail.
Sir Ian McGeechan
One of essentially the most revered coaches within the sport, McGeechan was British & Irish Lions head coach on 4 excursions spanning a 20-year interval. Capped 32 occasions for Scotland as a participant, he was knighted in 2010 for companies to rugby and continues to supply perception in a column for the Daily Telegraph.
Johnnie Beattie
Capped 38 occasions for Scotland, it’s for his French experience that Beattie is especially valued, with a six-year stint at Castres and Bayonne offering the previous quantity eight with distinctive data of the Top 14. Sister Jen gained 143 worldwide soccer caps.
Sergio Parisse
(Getty Images)
Italy’s biggest ever participant returns having made his ITV debut throughout the World Cup having confirmed his retirement after lacking out on the Azzurri’s squad for the event.
ITV co-commentators
Benjamin Kayser
The bilingual Kayser has change into a preferred pundit on each side of the channel. Erudite and entertaining, the previous Leicester and Clermont Auvergne hooker studied on the University of Oxford and has hung out teaching leisure membership Tunbridge Wells RFC.
Shane Williams
Since hanging up his worldwide boots as Wales’ file attempt scorer in 2011, sizzling stepper Williams has been a daily fixture on tv. The 46-year-old stays a health fanatic.
Gordon D’Arcy
O’Driscoll’s long-time centre associate, D’Arcy introduced his retirement in 2015 having gained three Champions Cups and 82 Ireland caps. He is a contributor to The Irish Times.
Ben Kay
2003 World Cup winner Kay has solid a popularity as one among commentary’s sharpest, calmest communicators on commentary since retirement. A daily function of membership rugby protection on BT Sport (now TNT Sports), the lock companions effectively with ITV’s lead commentator Nick Mullins.
Scott Hastings
Hastings gained 65 Scotland caps at centre, typically in the identical backline as brother Gavin. Twice a Lions vacationer, Hastings can also be sometimes employed as a lead commentary voice.
David Flatman
Ex-England prop Flatman is among the many hottest rugby talkers within the sport, including levity and scrum-time experience to protection.
Danielle Waterman
Danielle Waterman gained the 2014 World Cup
(Getty)
A attempt scorer in England’s 2014 World Cup ultimate victory over Canada, Waterman is one other former fleet of foot again in ITV’s commentary roster. An Olympian in rugby sevens, the ex-full again is an envoy for Laureus, Guinness and HSBC.
BBC
The BBC haven’t but introduced their line-up for this 12 months’s Six Nations, with affirmation anticipated on Monday 29 January. Gabby Logan is once more prone to function prominently as a presenter, with former Wales captain Sam Warbuton and England’s 2003 World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson amongst their promiment earlier pundits.
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