FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 6th, 2019

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS ROUND TWO OF 2019 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND

All Matches Presented Live on NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports Digital’s Direct-to-Consumer Live Streaming Product

Coverage on NBCSN Begins with Saturday Doubleheader – Scotland v. Ireland at 2:30 p.m. ET, Followed by Italy v. Wales at 4:30 p.m. ET

England Faces France on Sunday on NBCSN at 1:30 p.m. ET

Viewership of NBC Sports’ Opening Weekend of Six Nations Coverage on NBCSN Up 22% vs. 2018; Up 56% in P18-49 Demo

STAMFORD, Conn. – February 6, 2019 – NBC Sports continues its coverage of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship this weekend with matches from Round Two of the the world’s oldest rugby championship, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Scotland face Ireland, followed by Italy v. Wales at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Round Two coverage on NBCSN continues on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET, when France travel to Twickenham Stadium in London to face England.

The annual tournament, which has roots that date back more than a century, consists of 15 matches played in a round-robin format between six teams – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. All matches will stream live, commercial-free and on-demand on NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer live streaming product. Click here to purchase NBC Sports Gold’s Rugby Pass.

Exclusive live coverage on NBC Sports Gold begins Saturday at 9:15 a.m. ET with Scotland v. Ireland, followed by Italy v. Wales at 11:45 a.m. ET, and England v. France on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.

Derek Rae (play-by-play) and Alex Corbisiero (analyst), who played for England in the Six Nations Championship, will anchor NBCSN’s studio coverage for this weekend’s matches. 

SCOTLAND V. IRELAND – SATURDAY AT 9:30 A.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS GOLD; 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Scotland earned five points in Round One, defeating Italy 33-20, to extend their Six Nations home winning streak to seven matches. Defending Six Nations champions Ireland fell short against rival England, 32-20, in Round One after an unbeaten Six Nations run in 2018. Ireland defeated Scotland 28-8, in last year’s Six Nations meeting.

ITALY V. WALES – SATURDAY AT 11:45 A.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS GOLD; 4:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Italy was defeated by Scotland 33-20 in Round One, their record 18th straight defeat in the competition. Wales started their Six Nations campaign by defeating France 24-19 in a highly competitive match. Trailing 16-0 at halftime, the Welsh outscored France 24-3 in the second half, the largest halftime deficit overcome in Six Nations history. Last year, Wales defeated Italy in the Six Nations by a score of 38-14.

ENGLAND V. FRANCE – SUNDAY AT 10 A.M. ET ON NBC SPORTS GOLD; 1:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

In a convincing 32-20 Round One victory away from home, England earned five points in their win over defending champions Ireland. France aims to secure their first victory of this year’s tournament when they travel to Twickenham Stadium, a venue they have not won at since 2005 in Six Nations competition, to face England. Last year, France defeated England, 22-16.

 

Following is this weekend’s slate of Guinness Six Nations Championship matches on NBC Sports Gold and NBCSN. Click here for more information.

 

Date Match Time (ET) Network
Sat., Feb. 9 Scotland v. Ireland 9:15 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
  Scotland v. Ireland* 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
  Italy v. Wales 11:45 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
  Italy v. Wales* 4:30 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., Feb. 10 England v. France 10 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
  England v. France* 1:30 p.m. NBCSN

*Same-day delay


VIEWERSHIP OF NBC SPORTS’ OPENING WEEKEND OF SIX NATIONS COVERAGE ON NBCSN UP 22% VS. 2018


NBC Sports’ coverage of the first three matches of the 2019 Six Nations Championship on NBCSN averaged 131,000 viewers, up 22% vs. last year’s Six Nations coverage on NBCSN. Saturday’s match between England and defending champion Ireland on NBCSN (2:23-4:30 p.m. ET) led the way with 141,000 average viewers. The three matches also saw marked gains in the P18-49 demo, up 56% vs. the average for the demo for 2018 Six Nations matches on NBCSN.

 

ABOUT SIX NATIONS RUGBY

The Six Nations Championship is held annually in February and March in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. Since 2003, Average TV viewing of the Six Nations has increased by over 30% across the core six territories (now over 125 million TV viewers annually). The Six Nations Championship is broadcast in over 180 countries globally, and over 1 million people attend the 15 games of the Championship annually.


ABOUT NBC SPORTS GOLD

NBC Sports Gold is NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product that provides sports fans with access to exclusive premium sports events and content, live and on-demand, at an affordable price. Launched in 2016 with a single cycling product, NBC Sports Gold currently offers 13 individual sports “passes” – eight domestic (PGA TOUR LIVE, Premier League, Cycling, Track & Field, Speed Skating, Rugby, Supercross, and Snow, consisting of seven Winter Olympic sports); two regional (Blazers and Philly); one international (Notre Dame Football); and two domestic and international (Figure Skating and Pro Motocross). In 2019, NBC Sports Gold will add INDYCAR and lacrosse. Among the premium events and content offered by NBC Sports Gold are 28 PGA TOUR events, including THE PLAYERS and FedExCup Playoffs; 150 Premier League matches; the Tour de France and many more prominent cycling races; USA Track & Field and IAAF Diamond League events; domestic and international figure skating competitions; every Gallagher Premiership Rugby match; the entire 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season; 700+ hours of seven Winter Olympic sports; and all Notre Dame Football home games for international fans.

-NBC SPORTS-