Six Nations Showdown: England’s Redemption Quest Begins Under Borthwick as Eddie Jones Returns to the Spotlight

ITV and the BBC will potentially share the broadcasting rights for England’s Six Nations campaign for the last time this year, offering fans free-to-air access to the tournament. Of England’s five fixtures, four will be televised on ITV, including their opening clash against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on February 1. England’s other matches against France, Scotland, and Italy will take place at Twickenham, while their final showdown against Wales on March 15 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff will be shown on the BBC.

ITV’s punditry panel boasts rugby legends such as former England stars Jonny Wilkinson and Ugo Monye, alongside Irish great Brian O’Driscoll. Adding further intrigue is the presence of Eddie Jones, the former England head coach. Jones led England from 2015 to 2022, achieving three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2016, and guiding them to the Rugby World Cup final in 2019, where they fell short against South Africa. Now in his second stint with Japan, Jones also briefly returned to coach his native Australia in 2023.

Jones’ successor, Steve Borthwick, continues to lead England. Under Borthwick’s guidance, England finished fourth and third in his two previous Six Nations campaigns. However, 2024 proved challenging as England endured a six-match losing streak, spanning a summer tour to New Zealand and the Autumn Internationals. This streak was broken with a resounding 59-14 victory over Jones’ Japan in November. England now looks to the Six Nations to rebuild and regain their competitive edge under Borthwick’s leadership.