Paul Rouse: Six Nations must be careful what it wishes for - Pay-per-view carries hefty price

The immediate question has to be: What impact will this have on the ordinary people interested in the game?

A TV camera records the Ireland team during the national anthem ahead of a 2008 Six Nations game against Italy at Croke Park. Picture: Brendan Moran

Fri, 22 Jan, 2021 - 06:00

Paul Rouse is an historian, author, broadcaster… and former Offaly football boss. He specialises in sport and Irish culture.

For a year and more, the story that CVC Capital Partners – a private equity firm – planned to buy a substantial share in the Six Nations has been widely circulating.

CVC have already bought a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby and a 28% stake in the PRO14 tournament; they are now about to take 14.5% of the commercial rights for the Six Nations.