Six Nations 2026: How & Where to Listen on Radio & BBC Sounds

February 18, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Rugby fans have multiple options for following the Men’s Six Nations 2026, with the BBC providing comprehensive audio coverage across its radio networks and digital platforms. This weekend’s fixtures – England versus Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, followed by Wales against Scotland in Cardiff, and France hosting Italy on Sunday – will all be broadcast live.

England’s match against Ireland, kicking off at 2:10 PM GMT on Saturday, will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Ulster, as well as via the BBC Sounds app and BBC Sport Online. Later on Saturday, the Wales versus Scotland game, starting at 4:40 PM GMT, can be heard on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio Scotland Extra, BBC Sounds, and BBC Sport Online.

Sunday’s match between France and Italy, with a 3:10 PM GMT kick-off, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Sounds, and BBC Sport Online.

The BBC’s commentary team features Chris Jones and Sara Orchard, supported by a panel of former players including Chris Ashton, Tommy Bowe, Alex Cuthbert, Matt Dawson, Andy Nicol, Donncha O’Callaghan, and Philippa Tuttiett. Listeners are advised to check listings to determine whether games are on Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra, particularly on Saturday afternoons when Premier League football often takes priority on the main 5 Live channel.

Dedicated coverage is also available for fans in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales through their respective national BBC radio stations.

For those travelling outside the UK during the tournament, access to BBC programming may be restricted. The BBC Sounds app is no longer available to listeners outside the UK as of July 2025, though UK-based visitors should be able to continue listening for approximately one month per trip. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be used to bypass these geographical restrictions by masking a user’s IP address, allowing access to streaming services as if they were still within the UK. TechRadar currently recommends NordVPN, offering a 70% discount, as a leading VPN provider, citing its streaming capabilities and security features.

Beyond live radio coverage, the BBC offers a range of rugby programming throughout February and March. This includes highlights on “Rugby Special” (BBC Two and BBC iPlayer), “Scrum V Top 5” (BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer), and “Scrum V: The Warm Up” (BBC Two Wales and BBC iPlayer). Podcast options include “Rugby Union Weekly” and “Scrum V,” both available on BBC Sounds with new episodes released daily throughout the Six Nations.