All of Wales' autumn rugby matches to now be shown free-to-air as S4C make announcement

Amazon Prime has the rights to the new Nations Cup matches but Welsh language coverage will now be available on S4C

Every Wales game this autumn will be shown free-to-air live on S4C, including all of their fixtures in the new Nations Cup.

The announcement will come as a big boost to those who have raised concerns over matches going behind a paywall, with Amazon Prime Video having secured the main broadcast rights for the Nations Cup.

In particular, there was disquiet expressed by some over the big game against England on November 28 only being available on subscription TV.

But now that match, along with the other five facing Wayne Pivac’s team this autumn, will be live on Welsh language channel S4C.

They will show the warm-up game away to France on October 24 and the rearranged home Six Nations clash with Scotland a week later.

And they will then be showing all four Wales matches in the Nations Cup after reaching an agreement with Six Nations Rugby Ltd.

So that will be the three pool fixtures - Ireland, Georgia and England - plus the fourth game on the Finals weekend, against either France, Scotland, Italy or Fiji.

The opening match, versus Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, will also be shown live on Channel 4.

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S4C Sports Commissioner Sue Butler said: “We are delighted that viewers can follow Wales in this exciting new competition live on S4C.

“As a longstanding broadcast partner of the WRU, this agreement reaffirms S4C’s commitment to providing high-quality rugby coverage in the Welsh language for all Welsh rugby fans.”

WRU Commercial Director Craig Maxwell said: “S4C continue to be a great supporter of Welsh rugby. This deal is great for fans as it means they can watch our exciting Autumn Nations cup fixtures in the Welsh language”

The eight-team Nations Cup has been set up in place of the original autumn schedule, which had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Amazon will be showing 14 of the 16 matches having struck a deal worth a reported £15m.

Wales Autumn Fixtures on S4C

Saturday 24 October – International Friendly: France v Wales - 8pm

Saturday 31 October – Guinness Six Nations: Wales v Scotland - 2.15pm

Friday 13 November - Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland v Wales - 7pm

Saturday 21 November - Autumn Nations Cup: Wales v Georgia - 5.15pm

Saturday 28 November - Autumn Nations Cup: Wales v England - 4pm

Saturday 5 December - Autumn Nations Cup – Finals weekend: Wales v TBC