"Ridiculous" – Fans fume at 2025 Six Nations Kick-Off Time
Today at 04:13 AM
The Six Nations is back, and the buzz is real—but not everyone is thrilled about the tournament's opening night.
France will kick things off against Wales in Paris on Friday, 31 January, but the 9:15 pm local start time has left fans fuming.
"Terrible for Welsh Rugby"
One disgruntled supporter didn't hold back, saying:
“Rugby is already declining in Wales, and now children won't be able to watch their first game. Bad idea.”
"Logistical Nightmare"
Another fan pointed out the travel chaos, adding:
“Getting to the Stade de France at the best of times is hard. Getting back after a 9:15 kick-off time will be a nightmare.”
"Who's Bright Idea Was This?"
In classic rugby fashion, some reactions were a little more blunt:
“Who's f**ing idea was this?”*
Saturday's Showdowns
The action continues the following day as England begin their campaign, while Scotland take on Italy at Murrayfield.
Where to Watch?
As always, UK fans can catch the action on BBC and ITV, with S4C providing Welsh-language coverage. France Télévision will handle French broadcasts, while RTE and Virgin Media bring the tournament to Irish viewers. Sky Italia remains the home of Six Nations rugby for Italian fans, with the World Feed service ensuring global coverage.
Is Free-to-Air Rugby Under Threat?
The Six Nations remains one of the last major rugby events available on free-to-air TV in the UK—but for how much longer?
The Current Deal
The existing UK broadcast agreement, which runs until March 2025, sees BBC and ITV share coverage. Back in 2015, Sky attempted to secure exclusive rights, only to be outbid by the joint BBC-ITV effort.
BBC Feeling the Pinch
Rising costs are putting the BBC under pressure, with a senior executive revealing:
“Sports rights in the UK have more than doubled in the past decade, while BBC's income has dropped by 30% in real terms. It's incredibly difficult for us to meet the demands of governing bodies across multiple sports.”
She added:
“With the Six Nations, we'll need to assess affordability. We're unlikely to be the highest bidder, and it'll be up to the governing bodies to balance reach and revenue.”
A Battle for the Rights?
With the BBC struggling, other broadcasters are circling. ITV may face stiff competition from TNT Sports, Sky, Netflix, and Prime Video when the next rights deal is up for grabs.
Could TNT Sports Be the Future?
Backed by Warner Bros., TNT Sports is quickly emerging as a major player in UK sports broadcasting. They've already partnered with the BBC for FA Cup coverage and could push for a similar joint deal to balance accessibility with commercial appeal.
Editors Picks:
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- Zach Mercer quits England, Gloucester sign replacement
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025 Six Nations fixtures confirmed, England handed worst possible start
ROUND 1
- Friday 31 January
- France vs Wales – 8.15pm
- Saturday 1 February
- Scotland vs Italy – 2.15pm
- Ireland vs England – 4.45pm
ROUND 2
- Saturday 8 February
- Italy vs Wales – 2.15pm
- England vs France – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 February
- Scotland vs Ireland – 3pm
ROUND 3
- Saturday 22 February
- Wales vs Ireland – 2.15pm
- England vs Scotland – 4.45pm
- Sunday 23 February
- Italy vs France – 3pm
ROUND 4
- Saturday 8 March
- Ireland vs France – 2.15pm
- Scotland vs Wales – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 March
- England vs Italy – 3pm
ROUND 5
- Saturday 15 March
- Italy vs Ireland – 2.15pm
- Wales vs England – 4.45pm
- France vs Scotland – 8pm
AI predicts the next 20 Six Nations winners, Scotland finally win it
Groundbreaking AI technology has unveiled its jaw-dropping forecasts for the next two decades of Six Nations glory, and the results are nothing short of mind-blowing.
According to the cutting-edge predictions, England is poised to clinch victory in a staggering five out of the next 20 tournaments, while Scotland is primed for a historic triumph, marking their first title since their Five Nations conquest in 1999.
However, the road ahead seems daunting for Wales, as the AI oracle forecasts a prolonged wait until 2041 for their next taste of Six Nations glory.
Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses such as England, Ireland, and France are slated to dominate the competition, casting a shadow over Welsh aspirations.
Check out the next 20 Six Nations winner’s below.
2025: France
2026: Ireland
2027: England
2028: England
2029: Scotland
2030: France
2031: Ireland
2032: England
2033: Ireland
2034: France
2035: Ireland
2036: England
2037: Scotland
2038: France
2039: Ireland
2040: England
2041: Wales
2042: France
2043: Ireland
Name the top 10 scorers in Six Nations history
Think you know your rugby history? The Six Nations Championship has seen some of the game's most iconic players rack up incredible points over the years.
From pinpoint goal-kicking maestros to dynamic try-scoring machines, these legends have left their mark on the competition.
But how well do you know them? Can you guess who sits atop the leaderboard and who just sneaks into the top 10? Take the quiz and prove your rugby knowledge!
MORE QUIZZES:
- Can you name the Six Nations players with the most appearances in the tournament?
- Can you name all 80 England captains of the professional era?
- Can you name every member of the 2017 British and Irish Lions?
- Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players #2
- QUIZ: Can you name these 10 England one-cap wonders…
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