ITV has won the rights to broadcast every England rugby union Test from 2026 after agreeing a new £80m deal for the inaugural Nations Championship. The terrestrial broadcaster beat off rivals to secure the deal, ensuring all home nations matches will be available free-to-air for at least the next three years.
The Nations Championship deal gives ITV the right to show every game in the new 12-team competition, which features all Six Nations teams and southern hemisphere rivals South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Japan. ITV already has a joint £63m deal with the BBC for the Six Nations Championship, with exclusive rights to every England game and 10 of the 15 matches overall.
Under the new tournament structure, the Six Nations will tour the southern hemisphere for three Tests in July, with England beginning against South Africa in Johannesburg. They will then host Australia, Japan and New Zealand in November, followed by a final series. The first final will be at Twickenham next year before being staged in Qatar in 2028.
TNT Sports, which had broadcast autumn Tests for the past three years, was given first refusal but declined the opportunity. The asking price and the biennial format of the Nations Championship were factors in their decision. ITV's winning bid is seen as a boost for rugby, given the finances and free-to-air exposure.
