Maro Itoje Urges Free-to-Air Coverage for Six Nations Tournament

England's Six Nations campaign began with a defeat against Ireland, despite a strong first half performance. Coach Steve Borthwick acknowledged Ireland's impressive second half, where they scored 22 unanswered points, turning the game in their favor. Maro Itoje, England's captain, emphasized the importance of keeping the Six Nations on free-to-air television, as the current broadcasting rights expire soon. He expressed concern that moving to a subscription model would limit accessibility for fans, which could negatively impact the sport's visibility. The ongoing discussions around future broadcast deals have raised alarms within the rugby community, given the potential shift from free access to paywalls. Both Itoje and vice-captain Ellis Genge highlighted the need for rugby to engage more viewers, reinforcing the belief that the sport should be as accessible as possible.