Six Nations 2024 pundits and commentators for ITV and BBC
The two broadcasters share the rights to the Six Nations in the United Kingdom
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Your support makes all the difference.The Six Nations is set to return to television screens, with the BBC and ITV again sharing coverage of the annual championship.
The two terrestrial broadcasters’ combined deal runs until the end of the 2025 edition.
A number of familiar faces will provide expert insight and analysis across the Six Nations campaign, along with some key new additions.
ITV stalwart Sir Clive Woodward, meanwhile, announced ahead of the start of the tournament that he would no longer feature as the 2003 World Cup-winning coach elects to focus on other business pursuits.
Here is who you can expect to see and hear throughout the Six Nations.
ITV
ITV were first to name their television line-up, shortly after news of Woodward’s departure. Presenters Mark Pougatch and Jill Douglas will front their coverage, with Nick Mullins and Miles Harrison providing lead commentary voices. Former England international Topsy Ojo will feature as both a pundit and reporter, with ITV veteran Gabriel Clarke also providing on-the-ground reports.
Recently-retired Wales fly half Dan Biggar is added to their punditry roster, with ex-France hooker Benjamin Kayser back on board having primarily worked for French television during the World Cup.
ITV Pundits
Jonny Wilkinson
Wilkinson’s World Cup-winning drop goal in 2003 remains the signature moment in English men’s rugby history. An occasional coaching consultant to the national team, the former fly half won 97 caps and finished his club career forging a dynasty on the French south coast with Toulon.
Lawrence Dallaglio
Number eight Dallaglio was a key leader in the World Cup-winning England side and is now a regular on ITV and TNT Sports. He recently helped write The Boys of Winter, a retrospective on England’s 2003 triumph, with journalist Owen Slot.
Maggie Alphonsi
Ex-flanker Alphonsi was a key cog in England’s 2014 World Cup win under Gary Street, and has become a familiar face on ITV and Sky since retirement, as well as working as a regular columnist for The Telegraph. She was the first female winner of Rugby Union Writers’ Club’s prestigious Pat Marshall Memorial Award.
Ugo Monye
The busy Monye will combine his work for ITV with his regular duties as a co-host of the BBC’s Rugby Union Daily podcast and presenter of Rugby Special, the Sunday evening highlights show. The former England international has forged a successful, varied post-playing career, including a stint as a captain on Question of Sport and an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.
Brian O’Driscoll
Regarded as one of the greatest centres in history and perhaps Irish rugby’s most talented individual player, O’Driscoll is a skillful pundit, too. The three-time Six Nations player of the championship won 133 caps for his country and appeared on four British and Irish Lions tours.
Rory Best
The Ulsterman, who captained Ireland at the World Cup in 2019, offers a measured take on proceedings and the expertise that comes with 102 test starts at hooker.
Jamie Roberts
Hulking former Wales centre Roberts’s career took in stops in England, France, South Africa and Australia, and the 36-year-old is well qualified off the pitch, too, earning a degree in medicine at Cardiff University and completing a Master’s in medical science at Cambridge.
Dan Biggar
A first Six Nations since announcing his retirement sees Biggar step into the punditry world. A fierce competitor on the pitch may well prove a shrewd analyst off it, having already impressed with a series of columns for the Daily Mail.
Sir Ian McGeechan
One of the most respected coaches in the sport, McGeechan was British & Irish Lions head coach on four tours spanning a 20-year period. Capped 32 times for Scotland as a player, he was knighted in 2010 for services to rugby and continues to offer insight in a column for the Daily Telegraph.
Johnnie Beattie
Capped 38 times for Scotland, it is for his French expertise that Beattie is particularly valued, with a six-year stint at Castres and Bayonne providing the former number eight with exceptional knowledge of the Top 14. Sister Jen won 143 international football caps.
Sergio Parisse
Italy’s greatest ever player returns having made his ITV debut during the World Cup having confirmed his retirement after missing out on the Azzurri’s squad for the tournament. Parisse will also appear on the BBC.
ITV co-commentators
Benjamin Kayser
The bilingual Kayser has become a popular pundit on both sides of the channel. Erudite and entertaining, the former Leicester and Clermont Auvergne hooker studied at the University of Oxford and has spent time coaching recreational club Tunbridge Wells RFC. He will also work for the BBC during the tournament.
Shane Williams
Since hanging up his international boots as Wales’ record try scorer in 2011, hot stepper Williams has been a regular fixture on television. The 46-year-old remains a fitness fanatic.
Gordon D’Arcy
O’Driscoll’s long-time centre partner, D’Arcy announced his retirement in 2015 having won three Champions Cups and 82 Ireland caps. He is a contributor to The Irish Times.
Ben Kay
2003 World Cup winner Kay has forged a reputation as one of commentary’s sharpest, calmest communicators on commentary since retirement. A regular feature of club rugby coverage on BT Sport (now TNT Sports), the lock partners well with ITV’s lead commentator Nick Mullins.
Scott Hastings
Hastings won 65 Scotland caps at centre, often in the same backline as brother Gavin. Twice a Lions tourist, Hastings is also occasionally employed as a lead commentary voice.
David Flatman
Ex-England prop Flatman is among the most popular rugby talkers in the game, adding levity and scrum-time expertise to coverage.
Danielle Waterman
A try scorer in England’s 2014 World Cup final victory over Canada, Waterman is another former fleet of foot back in ITV’s commentary roster. An Olympian in rugby sevens, the ex-full back is an ambassador for Laureus, Guinness and HSBC.
BBC
The BBC confirmed their line-up ahead of the tournament, with Gabby Logan as lead presenter and Andrew Cotter the primary play-by-play commentator. Ugo Monye will continue to present Rugby Special on Sunday nights, with Sonja McLaughlan and Lee McKenzie in pitchside reporting roles. Sara Orchard, Alastair Eykyn and Gareth Rhys Owen will provide TV highlights commentary and contribute to BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage, which will be led by Chris Jones.
The BBC TV pundits and commentators for this year’s Six Nations are:
Sam Warburton
Warburton led Wales to a World Cup semi final in 2011 having been installed as a young skipper by Warren Gatland. Possessor of a sharp rugby mind, Warbuton was forced into an early retirement after a number of injury issues but has become a popular analyst on TV, radio and in print for The Times.
Martin Johnson
England’s World Cup-winning skipper in 2003, Johnson’s stint as head coach was less successful, but he remains a highly-respected figure in the sport and a measured, perceptive pundit.
John Barclay
Barclay has impressed as a pundit since retiring in 2019 with 76 Scotland caps, including plenty as captain. A long stint with the Scarlets offers him in-depth understanding of the Welsh game, too.
Jonathan Davies
Nicknamed “Jiffy”, veteran Davies provides punditry on both codes after a long playing career in league and union. The Welshman received an MBE in 1995 and an OBE in 2015.
Chris Paterson
Known for his accuracy from the tee, former full-back Paterson finished his Test career as Scotland’s record points scorer, and has since helped out the national team as a specialist kicking coach.
Dylan Hartley
Hooker Hartley captained England between 2016 and 2019, before injuries forced him into retirement just three caps short of a century. The former Northampton front-rower is an outspoken, but intelligent, individual.
Nigel Owens
The Welsh referee took charge of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final and became the first official to oversee 100 international matches shortly before retiring in December 2020. He will provide expert insight on key decisions made by the officiating teams during the tournament.
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