ITV launches £80m bid for rugby’s Nations Championship View 2 Images

Rugby union's inaugural Nations Championship looks set to be shown on free-to-air television after ITV bid more than £80m.

If successful, every Six Nations match and Nations Championship fixture will be terrestrial TV in the UK until at least 2029.

The broadcaster has been in competition with TNT Sports , the early favourites to land the new competition, but it appears ITV may have come on top in a deal that covers the first two editions of the tournament.

The Nations Championship will replace the summer international tours and Quilter Nations Series from next autumn with a 12-team competition followed by a finals weekend – the first of which will be held in London.

ITV currently has rights to England matches d

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