Joint Six Nations TV bid - report

Labour's shadow sports minister has welcomed reports the BBC and ITV have teamed up to keep the Six Nations on terrestrial television.

Clive Efford claims it would be a "huge mistake" for the tournament to be limited to pay TV.

Efford said: "I welcome the BBC and ITV working together to ensure Six Nations stays on free to air television.

"It would be a huge mistake for another rugby competition to be put on subscription television, further limiting the exposure the sport gets, particularly to the next generation of potential rugby fans.

"If the Six Nations were to go to a subscription channel, politicians from all sides will inevitably be calling for the event to be A listed."