BBC Radio 5 Live will air extensive coverage of the 2024 and 2025 Autumn Rugby Internationals as part of a new two-year audio rights deal.
Hot off the heels of the Rugby World Cup coverage in 2023 and England’s tour of New Zealand in the summer, BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and app is set to bring listeners every home nation game and the much anticipated France v New Zealand clash this November, confirming BBC Radio as the home of international rugby union.
The BBC Sport website also has live text commentary of all the England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland games, and there’ll be regular editions of the Rugby Union Weekly Podcast.
Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra says: “Securing the Autumn Internationals is a further demonstration of our commitment to international rugby for our sport listeners to enjoy. Hosting every single home nations game live, as well as the mouthwatering clash between France and New Zealand, 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra will provide a commentary team of expert analysts to bring listeners all of the action pitch side.”
Welsh rugby fans can follow the men’s Welsh Rugby team with all international games on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru as well as BBC Sounds. In Scotland, audiences can tune in to every Scotland international game on BBC Radio Scotland Extra, 810MW and online.
BBC Sport NI has live audio commentary of all four of Ireland’s Autumn Internationals on BBC Sounds. Ireland v New Zealand and Ireland v Australia will be available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster, Ireland v Fiji and Ireland v Argentina can be listened to on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Foyle.
This latest deal follows the recent announcement that BBC Sport will show the women’s Rugby World Cup exclusively in 2025.
ZB