The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
Platform Media
State Of The Game: The Free-to-Air Revolution
1 hour 10 minutes Posted Dec 10, 2025 at 12:01 am.
🛞 Proudly Sponsored by Continental Tyres
📺 ITV Secures England Rugby Rights
🏉 The Role of Players Promoting Rugby
🤝 The Significance of ITV's Deal for Rugby
📡 Club Rugby and TNT's Future
💶 Comparing Financials: Prem Rugby vs. Top 14
📉 Prem Rugby's Current State and Future Prospects
💼 CVC's Investment in Rugby
🚣‍♂️ Ollie Phillips' Atlantic Row Challenge
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Show notes
Alex Payne and Mike Tindall dive into the seismic news of ITV securing the rights to the New Nations Series from 2026-2028, making them the undisputed home of English international rugby. Next year will be the first time in 30 years that all England games will be free to air. We ask… Is this the best thing to happen to the English game since 2003? Is rugby finally ready to grasp the opportunity of free-to-air coverage to widen the sport's appeal. We're joined by Ben Rumsby, Sports Investigations Reporter for The Daily Telegraph, for a deep dive into the state of the sports broadcasting landscape.
Plus, England Sevens legend Ollie Phillips dials in to share the truly bonkers challenge he's about to undertake: rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic for three incredible causes (Cure Parkinson's, My Name's Dottie, and the Matt Hampson Foundation). Good luck, Ollie!
🪽Castore Code: GBR30 www.castore.com 
🚣‍♂️Ollie’s Row https://www.seaslife.co.uk/donate 
📗The Good, The Bad & The Rugby: Unloaded are now available: https://lnk.to/GBRUnlocked/waterstones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices