FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 30th, 2019

NBC SPORTS BEGINS COVERAGE OF 2019 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP THIS WEEKEND

Coverage of the Annual Guinness Six Nations Championship Begins Friday at 3 p.m. ET Live on NBCSN with France v. Wales

Saturday Doubleheader on NBCSN – Scotland v. Italy at 12:30 p.m., Followed by Defending Champions Ireland Facing England at 2:30 p.m. ET

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

STAMFORD, Conn. – January 30, 2019 – NBC Sports begins its annual coverage of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship, the world’s oldest rugby championship, this weekend with Round One matches, beginning Friday live at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN when France faces Wales.

Round One coverage continues with a Saturday doubleheader starting with Scotland-Italy at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by defending champions Ireland taking on England at 2:30 p.m. ET.

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. NBC, NBCSN, and CNBC will combine to present linear coverage. Click here for more information on Six Nations coverage on NBC Sports Gold.

Leigh Diffey will anchor this weekend’s coverage on NBCSN alongside analysts Alex Corbisiero and Dan Lyle.

NBC Sports’ Six Nations coverage enhances its already robust slate of rugby properties, which includes exclusive Olympic rugby coverage through 2032, the Rugby World Cup (both 7’s & 15’s) through 2023, Premiership Rugby, and Champions Cup Rugby.

FRANCE V. WALES – FRIDAY 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Welsh – winners of four Six Nations Championships since 2000 – look to improve upon a second-place finish in 2018, and are led by Alun Wyn Jones, who boasts a team-high 48 career Six Nations Championship caps. France aims to secure its 18th outright title and sixth Six Nations Championship, but has not finished in the top two of the tournament since 2011. Morgan Parra is the club’s most experienced member, leading the squad in caps (31) and points (158). Wales edged out France, 14-13, in last year’s Six Nations meeting.

SCOTLAND V. ITALY – SATURDAY 12:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Scotland, which finished third in last year’s Six Nations Championship, is in search of its first title since 1999, when the tournament was still the Five Nations Championship. Two-time Player of the Championship Stuart Hogg and Greig Laidlaw lead Scotland. Italy will make its 20th Six Nations tournament appearance and looks to make its first top-three finish in the standings, following its third consecutive sixth-place finish last year. Last year, Scotland defeated Italy in the Six Nations by a score of 29-27.

IRELAND V. ENGLAND – SATURDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Ireland and England have combined to win the last five Six Nations titles. Ireland won the 2018 Six Nations Championship in dominant fashion, capturing a Grand Slam title (winning all five matches) and a Triple Crown (defeating the other three “home nations”). Ireland is led by 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year Johnny Sexton and 2018 World Rugby Coach of the Year Joe Schmidt. England will look to rebound from a fifth-place finish in last year’s Six Nations Championship, which came on the heels of back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. 2017 European Player of the Year Owen Farrell, who has 29 career caps in his Six Nations Championship career and currently plays for Premiership side Saracens, will serve as England’s captain. Last year, Ireland defeated England, 24-15.

 

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
Fri., Feb. 1 France v. Wales 3 p.m. NBCSN & NBC Sports Gold
Sat., Feb. 2 Scotland v. Italy 9:15 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
Scotland v. Italy* 12:30 p.m. NBCSN
Ireland v. England 11:45 a.m. NBC Sports Gold
Ireland v. England* 2:30 p.m. NBCSN

*Same-day delay


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.

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