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Every Wales game for three years set to be free to watch in major announcement | Wales Online
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A new TV deal means all Wales matches until 2029 are set to be on terrestrial TV
What ITV’s major TV announcement means for Wales and Test rugby for the next three years
- Free-to-Air Coverage: ITV has been confirmed as the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster for the new Nations Championship in the UK, ensuring the tournament is accessible to a wide audience.
- Tournament Launch: The inaugural competition is set to begin in July 2026, featuring the world’s top 12 international rugby teams.
- Participating Teams: The tournament will include the Six Nations teams (Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy) and the Rugby Championship sides (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina), plus Japan and Fiji.
- Tournament Frequency: The competition will be held every two years, specifically during the summer and autumn international windows.
- Replacing “Friendlies”: The new format is designed to give more competitive meaning to the July and November international matches, moving away from the traditional “friendly” series.
- Wales’ Schedule: This summer, Wales will play away matches against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa, followed by home games in November against Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
- Finals Weekend: The tournament will culminate in a major “finals weekend” held in London to determine the overall champion.
- Long-term Deal: ITV’s agreement covers the first two editions of the tournament (2026 and 2028) and also includes rights to World Cup warm-up matches, solidifying the channel as the “home of international rugby” for the next three years.
- Wales free from pay wall: Given the fact ITV and BBC have the rights for Six Nations matches until 2029, and the World Cup is expected to be shown on ITV in 2027 (pending an official announcement), it means every Wales game and international involving the home nations is set be on terrestrial TV in 2026, 2027 and 2028
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