Autumn series: Cost of showing rugby ‘too much’ say pub

A packed-out stadium is the best place to watch rugby, right?

Not everyone is able to be there in person of course, so the next best thing is watching it in your local pub, rugby club or from the comfort of your own home.

All of Wales’ games are free to watch on S4C due to a partnership with TNT, who said this makes the games as widely available as possible to fans.

But if you want to watch the other games taking place this autumn, or have English language commentary, you have to pay via a subscription, which is not a new thing for rugby fans.

Jon and Sacha Child, who have been running The Kings Arms Hotel in Abergavenny for nearly 12 years, say they are “grateful” for S4C showing Wales’ autumn Test series games.

They realised the cost of a subscription wouldn’t be “viable” for their business.

The Kings Arms initially advertised they were showing all 21 games this month, but a TNT representative contacted them to say they didn’t have a subscription.

“It wasn’t in a malicious way, it was more flagging that we didn’t have the right package,” Jon said.

“The price for a commercial package was priced a little under £700 a month plus VAT with a minimum six months contract. That was just way too much for us a business.”

Jon said the pub had lost about 40-50 customers last week for the England v New Zealand match.

“We knew they had booked specifically to watch the match here, so when we had to cancel it meant they went to competitors,” he said.

Jon added being able to show Wales’ games via S4C was a “lifeline”.

“Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to show anything and I think that would have been even more stark for us.”

But he added feedback from customers was that they prefer having English language commentary as the majority do not speak Welsh.

• For Wales’ games, viewers can watch all three games via S4C or BBC iPlayer , with Welsh language commentary
• If you want to watch Wales’ games with English language commentary (which would also include all 21 games being shown) you’ll have to sign up to TNT
• That will cost you £30.99 a month but includes access to all sports across the streaming site
• You can listen to all of Wales’ games on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru as well as the rest of the nations on BBC 5live. These are all available on the BBC Sounds app
• We will also have live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app

Mike Turner from Pontypool said all international rugby should be on free to watch on terrestrial TV.

“I know we are lucky to have S4C in Wales but I’m concerned about the Six Nations going that way,” he said.

He added being able to watch the games for free helps “grow the game” but that people will just go elsewhere to get their rugby fix.

Not everyone thinks that rugby should be free to air.

Andy Davies, originally from Risca but living in the south west of England said the £30.99 subscription is “good value for money”.

“I’ve paid for TNT for one month at a cost of £30. For that I get to watch 21 international rugby matches. All Rugby Unions need money and therefore I support pay to view,” he said.

“I like to watch all rugby, including the four Welsh regions so I pay for other sport subscriptions too.” he said.

“Professional rugby is a business and by paying to watch I feel that I’m supporting the WRU in someway, as I’m not able to attend as much matches I would like.”

Natalie Marchant Parry also said she is happy to pay.

“I’m at the game for Australia but still don’t want to miss the others and it’s cheaper than going to the pub for each game,” she said.

“I think we are all in agreement that as much as we would like to see it for free we have to accept the cost.”

Jonathan Tippins from Barry said: “As a Welsh speaker I am happy to watch the Rugby on S4C, but I always watch the sport with non Welsh speaking friends and family, so reluctantly I’ve paid for TNT.”

Sue Butler from S4C said: “Given how important Welsh rugby and the international games are to audiences, we are pleased to offer these games for free, in Welsh, on S4C.”

The WRU said through a deal with TNT, rugby clubs can show matches live in their clubhouses via a code.

“We have been delighted to secure television rights with S4C for all of our matches, in a deal which with Wales’ autumn nations series games to be shown live for the next two seasons,” the spokesperson added.

Back in August, Trojan Paillot from Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe which owns TNT, said showing the games would ensure TNT Sports remains the go-to destination for rugby fans.

“Co-broadcasting the Welsh national team fixtures against Fiji, Australia and South Africa alongside an outstanding partner such as S4C matches our ambition to making those three internationals as widely available as possible to viewers in Wales.”

Wales are playing three games, all at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

• Sunday 10 November (13:40 GMT) Wales v Fiji

• Sunday 17 November (16:10) Wales v Australia

• Saturday 23 November (17:40) Wales v South Africa

You can also see all the other fixtures for here on the BBC Sport website.

Winnett; Grady, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Plumtree, Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, N Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Botham, J Morgan, Bevan, Costelow.