The cost of showing rugby is ‘extreme’ says the pub

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

Not everyone can be there, so the best thing to do is watch in your local pub, rugby club or from your own home.

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

But if you want to watch other games played this fall, or have English commentary, you will have to pay through a subscription, which is not new thing for rugby fans.

Jon and Sacha Child, who have run The Kings Arms Hotel in Abergavenny for nearly 12 years, said they were “grateful” for S4C to show Wales’ autumn Test series games.

They know that subscription fees will not 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’s not in a malicious way, it’s more flagging that we don’t have the right package,” said Jon.

“The price for the commercial package is priced a little at £700 a month plus VAT with a minimum six month contract. It’s just way too much for our business.”

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

“We know that they had special orders to watch the match here, so when they had to cancel, it meant they went to a competitor,” he said.

Jon added being able to show the Wales game via S4C was a “lifeline”.

“Otherwise we won’t be able to show anything and I think it will be more difficult for us.”

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

• For the Wales game, viewers can watch all three games via S4C or BBC iPlayer with Welsh commentary
• If you want to watch Wales games with English commentary (which also includes all 21 games featured) you must register TNT
• It will cost you £30.99 a month but that includes access to all the sports on the streaming site
• You can listen to all Wales games on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru as well as the rest of the nation BBC 5 live. These are all available in the BBC Sounds app
• We will also have live text coverage on BBC Sport website and apps

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

“I know we’re lucky to have S4C in Wales, but I’m concerned the Six Nations will be like that,” he said.

He added that being able to watch the game for free helped “grow the game” but people would simply go elsewhere for their rugby fix.

Not everyone thinks rugby should be shown for free.

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

“I have paid for TNT for one month at a cost of £30. For that I get to watch 21 international rugby matches. All Rugby Union needs money and that’s why I support paying to see,” he said.

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

“Professional rugby is a business and by paying to watch I feel like I’m supporting the WRU, because I can’t go to the games I want.”

Natalie Marchant Parry also said she was happy to pay.

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

“I think we all agree that if we want to see it for free, we have to accept a fee.”

Jonathan Tippins from Barry said: “As a Welsh speaker I like to watch Rugby on S4C, but I always watch sports with my non Welsh speaking friends and family, so reluctantly I have paid for TNT.”

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

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

“We are delighted to have secured the television rights with S4C for all of our matches, in a deal which will see Wales’ autumn cross-country series games broadcast over the next two seasons,” the spokesman said.

Back in August, Trojan Paillot of Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe which owns TNT, said showing the game would ensure TNT Sports remains a destination for rugby fans.

“Co-broadcasting the Welsh national team’s matches against Fiji, Australia and South Africa alongside fantastic partners such as S4C is in line with our ambition to make these three internationals available to viewers in Wales.”

Wales played 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

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

You can also see all the other rugby gear 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.