RTÉ and Virgin unveil their Six Nations pundits, fixtures and commentators

Patrick McCarry

One name is conspicuous by his absence in the RTÉ line-up.

Virgin Media and RTÉ have announced details its joint Six Nations coverage, with all 15 men’s games live and free-to-air across the two broadcasters.

Virgin get the first crack at covering a game for the current holders and Grand Slam winners. Ireland will kick-start the tournament with a trip to France on Friday, February 2. The match, taking place at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, will also be available on the Virgin Media Player.

The releases do not include recently retired Ireland stars Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls, while Simon Zebo is not mentioned in the list of RTÉ [more below]. The Munster star featured during the broadcaster’s 2023 Six Nations and World Cup coverage but is back playing, and in form, for his province. He would dearly love to be involved in the 2024 Six Nations, as a player this time, and could yet feature as Andy Farrell has been hit by injuries to Mack Hansen, Jimmy O’Brien and the uncapped Jamie Osborne.

Jerry Flannery and Andrew Conway will be putting their punditry hats on. (Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile)

Six Nations pundits

Joe Molloy will front the coverage, with Rob Kearney, Matt Williams, Shane Horgan, Andrew Trimble, Ian Madigan, Fiona Hayes and Grace Davitt among the panellists. Dave McIntyre and Alan Quinlan will be on commentary, with Tommy Martin reporting from Ireland matches. Retired Munster and Ireland winger Andrew Conway makes his punditry bow, at some stage.

Ireland v Wales on Saturday, February 24 and England v Ireland on Saturday, March 9 will be live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Jacqui Hurley will be RTÉ host for those fixtures with ‘panellists and analysts’ including Jamie Heaslip, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Ferris, Fiona Coghlan, Donal Lenihan, Hannah Tyrrell and Jerry Flannery.

Against The Head will also return with a Monday evening review, and discussions, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

SIX NATIONS FIXTURES

ROUND ONE

France v Ireland, 20:00, Friday 2nd Feb, Virgin Media Television
Italy v England, 14:15, Saturday 3rd Feb, Virgin Media Television
Wales v Scotland, 16:45, Saturday 3rd Feb, RTÉ

ROUND TWO

Scotland v France, 14:15, Saturday 10th Feb, Virgin Media Television
England v Wales, 16:45, Saturday 10th Feb, RTÉ
Ireland v Italy, 15:00, Sunday 11th Feb, Virgin Media Television

ROUND THREE

Ireland v Wales, 14:15, Saturday 24th Feb, RTÉ
Scotland v England, 16:45, Saturday 24th Feb, Virgin Media Television
France v Italy, 15:00, Sunday 25th Feb, RTÉ

ROUND FOUR
Italy v Scotland, 14:15, Saturday 9th March, Virgin Media Television
England v Ireland, 16:45, Saturday 9th March, RTÉ
Wales v France, 15:00, Sunday 10th March, RTÉ

ROUND FIVE

Wales v Italy, 14:15, Saturday 16th March, RTÉ
Ireland v Scotland, 16:45, Saturday 16th March, Virgin Media Television
France v England, 20:00, Saturday 16th March, RTÉ

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