Couple of points

1) With no LV Cup this year there will be a full premiership fixture list throughout the 6 nations with BT still showing 2/3 matches a weekend, so it'll be interested to see who use as a lot of their normal guys are elsewhere (mainly ITV).

2) Glad to see Flatman being used - hopefully on live commentary - as he was fantastic during the World Cup. I was worried he'd be on Premiership highlights.

3) Ali Williams must have one hell of an agent.

Commentator prediction time then:

FRA v ITA: Eddie Butler, Ali Williams and Jonathan Davies
SCO v ENG: Andrew Cotter, Brian Moore and Chris Paterson
IRE v WAL: Nick Mullins, Shane Williams and Gordon D'Arcy

FRA v IRE: Eddie Butler, Brian Moore and Phillip Matthews
WAL v SCO: Andrew Cotter, Jonathan Davies and Chris Paterson
ITA v ENG: Nick Mullins, Ben Kay and David Flatman

WAL v FRA: Eddie Butler, Brian Moore and Jonathan Davies
ITA v SCO: Martin Gillingham, David Flatman and Scott Hastings
ENG v IRE: Nick Mullins, Ben Kay and Gordon D'Arcy

IRE v ITA: Martin Gillingham, David Flatman and Gordon D'Arcy
ENG v WAL: Nick Mullins, Ben Kay and Shane Williams
SCO v FRA: Andrew Cotter, Brian Moore and Chris Paterson

WAL v ITA: Andrew Cotter, Martyn Williams and Jonathan Davies
IRE v SCO: Nick Mullins, Scott Hastings and Gordon D'Arcy
FRA v ENG: Eddie Butler, Brian Moore and Andy Nicol

It's a neat way of doing it by BT and BBC, from what I understand Eykyn will only be doing a few of the highlights games. That allows the BBC to keep a hold of Eykyn and in turn allows BT Sport to have more access to him than if he had stayed doing the major games for BBC radio.


This has been in the works for a while. They used Andrew McKenna and Jonathan Harris-Bass for comms on a couple of Prem games during the World Cup so I'd expect them to crop up again. You'll probably see the like of Nick Kennedy and Rob Vickerman crop up a bit on analysis and Austin Healey will pick up some more games.

It also won't be too difficult to see Ben Kay or Ugo Monye doing a 6 Nations game for ITV on the Saturday and the pop up the motorway to do a BT game the next day. In those terms it will be much easier for BT than the three weeks of the World Cup that they had to cover.

The only week that may cause a headache is Round 4 where ITV have two Saturday games, while BT have a Friday game, Wasps vs Leicester head to head with Ireland vs Italy on the Saturday afternoon and then London Irish vs Saracens from New York in the evening

EDIT - S4C will be showing all 5 of Wales's games

http://www.s4c.cymru/e_press_level2.shtml?id=3130

I hadn't thought that it might preclude him from doing 5 Live stuff, so if that is the case then it's certainly a plus.


They may change the timing on the Wasps game if they can. Otherwise would perhaps the game in the States be off-tubed? You have to send out commentators and a reporter for the whole weekend that way, so even if Mullins and Eykyn could do one game each for BT somehow, perhaps with Eykyn doing the Scotland v France live on Sunday or no game at all for the BBC, they'd have to fly somebody else to the USA, which would probably be someone like Andrew McKenna or perhaps Simon Ward.

I would think the likely scenario is Eykyn doing Bath on the Friday, Wasps on the Saturday and then someone like McKenna or Harris-Bass doing the New York game (whether off tube or in person), but only time will tell

I've read the respective press releases but there are still a few questions that need answering?

Is the BBC the only channel doing a regular highlights show? There is no mention of an ITV highlights show but when the deal was announced they said whichever channel didn't show the last match of the weekend would show the highlights.

Will they use each others commentary for highlights? ITV have only named two commentators but the BBC three?

I hope he has just been missed out but no mention of Phillip Matthews? (I know a lot don't like him but I do), the BBC will need an Irish voice on commentary even though they only have 3 away matches to show.

What has Mark Durden-Smith done to not get a role? After a good world cup I thought he would be second presenter after Mark Pougatch, surely he could do Premiership highlights as well like he did during the world cup.

I'm pleased to see Lee McKenzie involved but I would have liked to have seen Ross Harries doing some of the reporting for BBC.

Overall I still think the BBC have a better team, but both have a very good line-up. It makes sence for Shane Williams, McGeechan and Clive Woodward to stick with ITV. I'm pleased John Inverdale is back on the BBC though. Good news for TV coverage that Alastair Eykyn will be back involved, despite having less live matches the BBC needed a decent third option. Bit surprised that Mike Tindall is included.

Yeah I would agree with most of that.

Apart from Phillip Matthews isn't mention in the BBC press release so not sure if he will be on.

For WAL vs FRA I'd expect Martyn Williams on commentary with Jiffy in the studio.

And I'm wondering if Brian Moore would do England highlights if BBC are doing their own commentary ahead of matches like Scotland vs France.

Regarding the London Irish v Saracens game to be played in New York, if BT Sport are going to cover it on-site I doubt either Andrew McKenna or Simon Ward will be used as their commentator. I think Ward works as a matchday announcer at Twickenham so will be needed for England v Wales (that's on top of his work for his Talking Rugby radio audio agency), while McKenna is contracted to talkSPORT as their weekday afternoon sports newsreader, and they may not be willing to allow him an extended amount of time off to work for another broadcaster if it impinges on his regular commitments. If Jonathan Harris-Bass is a freelancer without any other commitments that weekend, he might be the guy to commentate on this game if they are going to be on-site.

I could see Andrew McKenna being called upon by BT Sport to commentate on typical Saturday and Sunday Premiership games during the Six Nations though; I believe Russell Hargreaves (another well-qualified rugby union broadcaster on that station who could be considered as substitute too) has replaced him as talkSPORT's reporter on England internationals fairly recently, so theoretically McKenna would be free to work elsewhere. I hope he gets another opportunity anyway - I listened to his commentary on the Twickenham Big Game between Harlequins and Gloucester for talkSPORT the weekend after Christmas and I thought he sounded excellent on that fixture.

The wording of the release was "including" IIRC so he may just not be down, especially as he's not really a big name and is rarely seen on screen.

You might be right with WAL v FRA actually, normally foir some reason Martyn Williams and Chris Paterson do the third-man role instead of Jonathan Davies and Andy Nicol respectively.

Moore could conceivably do both England-Wales and Scotland-France, and we might well see for highlights guys like Andy Robinson make an appearance, or Guscott on commentary.

That's still the case: The BBC has three highlights shows this year, and ITV has two.


I don't think either release lists all the people involved.

It makes a lot of sense to use Lee McKenzie with the loss of the BBC F1 rights and if she does move to Channel 4 she will still be available for most of the coverage.

Interesting to hear that Jonny Wilkinson will have an informal coaching role with England for the Six Nations, it could mean that he cant be a pundit on England games but then again he wont be needed all the time in an informal capacity,

During the first couple of weeks of the Premiership season they did bits from Premiership grounds, but also fudged it with links filmed at the World Cup games at Twickenham. That won't always be as easy to do during the 6N so it wouldn't surprise me to see MDS concentrate on that. Things might be different next year with less Premiership games during the tournament.

Also worth remembering Jill Douglas presented some of the World Cup highlight shows, so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to have her present some of the Six Nations highlights

Gerry Williams has died

European Rugby Challenge Cup – Thursday 21 January (Sky Sports 1)

Pool 2 – Sale Sharks v Newport Gwent Dragons

James Gemmell in the studio with Phil Vickery and Jonathan Thomas.

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond & Dewi Morris

That is sad. Loved Des and Gerry on Today At Wimbledon

European Rugby Challenge Cup – Friday 22 January (BT Sport Europe)

Pool 3 – Montpellier v Harlequins

Commentators: Andrew McKenna & Ugo Monye

A presumably off-tubed job with no presentation. A disappointing showing from BT tonight given a British team is playing.

More sad news this morning with the announcement that former cricketer, BBC and TalkSport commentator Jack Bannister has died aged 85

Rugby League: Salford v Wigan- Joe Mills and Andrew Rimmer on Wigan TV

Saturday 6 February- Six Nations Rugby Union on BBC One

John Inverdale is at Murrayfield to preview the opening round of the 2016 Six Nations Championship before handing to Gabby Logan in Paris.

France v Italy- Joining Gabby in the studio will be Thomas Castaignede and Keith Wood. Match commentary comes from Eddie Butler, Jonathan Davies and Carlo Del Fava.

Scotland v England- John Inverdale hosts. Andy Nicol, Jerry Guscott and Mike Tindall will be offering expert analysis from the studio, while Brian Moore and Chris Paterson will be in the commentary box alongside Andrew Cotter.

John inverdale presents Sunday's highlights show. Martyn Williams, Keith Wood and Jerry Guscott will be offering their take on events from the first round of games.

Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92 - Sky Sports 4

Comms: Martin Gillingham & Scott Hastings

Scarlets v Northampton - Sky Sports 2

Comms: Miles Harrison & Stuart Barnes

Both matches kicked off at 5:30pm

European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (Sky Sports 3)

Pool 1 – Toulouse v Saracens

Alex Payne at Parc y Scarlets with Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell.

Commentators: Mark Robson & Ieuan Evans


European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (Sky Sports 5)

Pool 1 – Ulster v Oyonnax

James Gemmell at Ravenhill with Paddy Wallace.

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond & Dewi Morris


European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (BT Sport Europe)

Pool 5 – Bath v Toulon

Sarra Elgan at The Rec with Austin Healey and Nick Abendanon.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, David Flatman & Austin Healey

Reporter: Chris Hollins


European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (BT Sport 2)

Pool 5 – Wasps v Leinster

Craig Doyle at the Ricoh Arena with Brian O'Driscoll, Lawrence Dallaglio and Andy Goode.

Commentators: Nick Mullins, Lawrence Dallaglio & Brian O'Driscoll

Reporter: Martin Bayfield


European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (Sky Sports 2)

Pool 3 – Scarlets v Northampton Saints

Alex Payne at Parc y Scarlets with Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell.

Commentators: Miles Harrison & Stuart Barnes

Reporter: Graham Simmons


European Rugby Champions Cup – Saturday 23 January (Sky Sports 4)

Pool 3 – Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92

Rupert Cox at Rugby Park with John Barclay.

Commentators: Martin Gillingham & Scott Hastings


We've so far this weekend had 5 European rugby matches on 5 different Sky Sports channels, incidentally.

European Rugby Champions Cup – Sunday 24 January (BT Sport Europe)

Craig Doyle in the studio with Lawrence Dallaglio and Brian O'Driscoll.

Pool 4 – Stade Français v Leicester Tigers

Commentators: Nick Mullins, Ben Kay & Ugo Monye

Reporter: Martin Bayfield

Pool 2 – Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Martyn Williams & Austin Healey

Reporter: Sarra Elgan


European Rugby Champions Cup – Sunday 24 January (BT Sport 2)

Pool 4 – Benetton Treviso v Munster

Commentators: Andrew McKenna & Donncha O'Callaghan


European Rugby Champions Cup – Sunday 24 January (Sky Sports 3)

Pool 2 – Clermont Auvergne v Bordeaux-Bègles

Alex Payne in the studio with Will Greenwood and Nick Kennedy.

Commentators: Mark Robson & Ieuan Evans

In fact it would appear that Sarra Elgan is in fact presenting this one from Sandy Park with Martyn Williams and Henry Slade, rather than it being anchored again from the studio.

Alastair Eykyn was pictured on Twitter interviewing Ospreys coach Gruff Rees so it doesn't look like there's a separate reporter there.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS HIGHLIGHTS

SAT 23/1/16 (BBC One)
Introduced by Eleanor Oldroyd
Murray v Sousa: Robbie Koenig & Paul Annacone
Konta v Allertova: Louise Pleming & Bojana Bobusic

SUN 24/1/16 (BBC Two)
Introduced by Katherine Downes
Djokovic v Simon: Robbie Koenig & Jacco Eltingh

MON 25/1/16 (BBC Two)
Introduced by George Riley
Konta v Makarova: Garry Wilkinson & Kerryn Pratt
Murray v Tomic: Josh Eagle & Paul Annacone

John Gwynne interview https://www.welivedarts.com/article/...-times-calling

Aussie Jim McGrath interview http://www.sen.com.au/programs/this-...e10lKJLvGMR.97