Six Nations 2024: When is it and how to watch in UK

Belfast Telegraph

15 January 2024

Six Nations 2024: When is it and how to watch in UK

Ireland have suffered a major injury blow with wing Mack Hansen being ruled out of the championship.

Hansen will undergo surgery after suffering a dislocated shoulder during Connacht’s United Rugby Championship clash against Munster.

Defending Six Nations champions Ireland kick off their campaign against France in Marseille on February 2, with their final game being a Dublin appointment with Scotland six weeks later.

Hansen, 25, has rapidly developed into a key player for Ireland, scoring nine tries in 21 Tests since making his debut in February 2022.

Meanwhile, England will be without captain Owen Farell for their Six Nations campaign after he made himself unavailable “in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing”.

Borthwick’s men will face stiff competition from France, whose dreams of home World Cup glory were dashed by eventual champions South Africa in the quarter-final, and Scotland, who were unable to overcome either Ireland or South Africa to make it out of their pool.

Wales too will have a point to prove after losing out in the World Cup quarter-finals to Argentina, while Italy will hope to bounce back having failed to make it out of their pool.

The 2024 Six Nations gets under way on Feb 2, 2024 at 8pm (UK time) as France host champions Ireland.

The last time either team stepped on to the field at the Stade de France was for the World Cup quarter-finals in October, when they were knocked out of the tournament on successive nights.

Ireland’s travelling supporters were among the loudest at the the global showpiece with fans and players alike belting out the lyrics to The Cranberries’ Zombie after every win. Expect more of the same during the Six Nations.

England kick-off their tournament against Italy at 2.15pm (UK time) on Feb 3, 2024. Borthwick’s side will be hoping to improve on their previous showing at the Six Nations after finishing fourth in the standings with 10 points, 17 points behind the winners, Ireland.

Fixtures this year will continue to be shown on both BBC and ITV in the UK. Live streams will be available for free on the BBC iPlayer and ITVX apps, and will be available to download on mobile or tablet devices.

The long-term future of the Six Nations on free-to-air TV is uncertain after the government rejected calls to add the tournament to the list of sporting events that must be shown for free.

Karl Dickson will referee next year’s Six Nations opener which pits the 2023 Grand Slam winners Ireland against the 2022 champions France.

Eight assistant referees will be making their Six Nations debut including Scotland’s Hollie Davidson.

Read the full list of referee appointments here.

All times GMT

Friday, February 2: France v Ireland,