Rugby is a popular sport in Scotland that many fans enjoy watching on TV. With games across multiple competitions like the Six Nations, Autumn Internationals, and Pro leagues, there are plenty of matches broadcast throughout the year. However, with games spread across various broadcasters and channels, it can be confusing to know where to watch Scottish rugby on TV.
Where are Scotland’s rugby matches broadcast?
Scotland’s national team competes annually in the Six Nations championship against England, France, Ireland, Italy and Wales. All Scotland Six Nations matches are broadcast live on BBC One and ITV. Usually, the BBC will air Scotland’s home matches while ITV broadcast away games.
For autumn internationals, the BBC share broadcasting rights with Amazon Prime. Autumn matches at Murrayfield Stadium are shown by the BBC, while Prime Video carries Scotland away fixtures in November.
On the club level, the United Rugby Championship features Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors competing against Irish, Italian, South African and Welsh teams. Premier Sports own the rights to this competition, showing all matches live or on replay.
Some Scotland players also compete for British and Irish Lions on tours held every 4 years. Sky Sports have exclusive rights to Lions matches in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
What TV channels show Scottish rugby?
Here are the main TV channels that broadcast Scottish rugby matches:
- BBC One – Scotland Six Nations home matches
- ITV – Scotland Six Nations away matches
- BBC Two – Some Scotland Autumn International fixtures
- Amazon Prime Video – Scotland Autumn International away matches
- Premier Sports – United Rugby Championship games
- Sky Sports – British and Irish Lions tours
In addition, BBC Alba provides Gaelic language commentary for certain Scotland internationals and club matches.
How to watch Scotland games on BBC and ITV
As free-to-air public broadcasters, BBC One and ITV are accessible channels for most people to watch Scotland at the Six Nations. You can view them through:
- Digital TV – On Sky, Virgin Media, Freeview, Freesat etc.
- BBC iPlayer app – Stream live BBC rugby online or on mobile devices
- ITV Hub – Watch ITV live online and on mobile
Both channels provide build-up preview and analysis around Scotland games as well as live coverage of the action. Gabby Logan often hosts the BBC rugby coverage with commentary from Andrew Cotter.
Watching Scotland on Premier Sports
As Premier Sports owns exclusive rights to the URC, a subscription is needed to watch Edinburgh and Glasgow matches. It is available through:
- Sky TV – Premier Sports 1 channel
- Virgin Media – Channel 551
- Premier Player – Online streaming service (£9.99 per month)
You can also access Premier Sports via Amazon Prime as an add-on channel. Scotland URC matches are commentated on by David Barnes and Tom Shanklin.
How to watch Scotland rugby on Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime has emerged as a broadcaster for Scottish rugby after acquiring some Autumn International rights. You will need a Prime membership to watch Scotland games on their service:
- Prime Video – Live stream and watch on demand
- Prime mobile app – For iOS and Android
- Smart TV apps – Such as Samsung, LG and Sony
Scotland away games in November will feature on Prime with commentary from Andrew Cotter, Shane Williams and others.
Watching Scotland via Sky Sports
Sky Sports provides comprehensive rugby union coverage, including Scotland players on British and Irish Lions tours. To access Sky Sports channels you require:
- Sky TV subscription – Sky Sports bundle
- NOW sports pass – Day (£11.98) or month (£33.99) streaming passes
- Sky Go app – For subscribers wanting mobile access
Sky has dedicated rugby channels and shows featuring expert analysis from the likes of Will Greenwood. Scottish commentators on Lions tours include Ian McGeechan and Doddie Weir.
When are Scotland’s rugby fixtures?
Here is an overview of when Scotland’s major rugby matches take place:
Six Nations
The Six Nations is played annually in February and March. Scotland play five games, facing each opponent once. Recent fixtures include:
Year | Opponent | Venue | Broadcaster |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | England | Twickenham | ITV |
2023 | Wales | Murrayfield | BBC |
2023 | France | Murrayfield | ITV |
2023 | Italy | Rome | ITV |
2023 | Ireland | Murrayfield | BBC |
Autumn Internationals
In November, Scotland typically play 4 autumn tests against top tier nations like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa:
Year | Opponent | Venue | Broadcaster |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Australia | Murrayfield | BBC |
2022 | Fiji | Murrayfield | Amazon |
2022 | New Zealand | Murrayfield | Amazon |
2022 | Argentina | Edinburgh | BBC |
URC
The United Rugby Championship sees Edinburgh and Glasgow compete almost every weekend between September and June:
Month | Competition | Broadcaster |
---|---|---|
Sept to May | Regular URC season | Premier Sports |
June | URC finals | Premier Sports |
How to watch rugby in a pub
Watching rugby down the pub is a popular option for many fans across Scotland. Most pubs have licenses with broadcasters that allow them to show major matches featuring Scotland and pro teams.
Some good pubs to watch the rugby include:
- The Scotsman – Edinburgh
- Fibber Magees – Glasgow
- The Old Bridge Inn – Aviemore
- The Gellions – Inverness
- The Braes – Perth
Contact your local pub to find out what rugby they show. Games featuring Scotland typically draw big crowds, so arrive early to secure a seat.
Watching Scotland abroad
When overseas, access to Scottish rugby broadcasts can be limited. However, there are still options to consider:
- VPN service – Use a UK server to access BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub from anywhere.
- Premier Player – Online rugby streaming service accessible globally.
- Expat bars – Pubs in Europe/USA sometimes show Six Nations.
- Subscription sites – Channels like ESPN and beIN Sports cover some competitions.
Check broadcast listings ahead of time and install any apps needed to watch Scotland’s matches abroad. Early starts to games may require setting alarm clocks!
How to get tickets to Scotland games
For the ultimate Scottish rugby experience, attending a live game is a must. Here is how you can get tickets:
- Scotland Rugby – Direct through the SRU for Murrayfield internationals.
- URC teams – Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors for club games.
- Resale sites – Try Ticketmaster or Viagogo for sold out matches.
- Ballots – Enter the ticket ballot when announced on social media.
- Hospitality – Packages that combine tickets with hotel and meals.
Scotland vs England and other big fixtures sell out fast. Sign up for pre-sale alerts and notifications to boost your chances.
Conclusion
Rugby enjoys a passionate following in Scotland, with fans always eager to watch the national team and club sides play. While broadcast rights are split across multiple channels, there are still plenty of straightforward ways to tune in for Six Nations, autumn tests and URC action.
Free-to-air coverage on BBC and ITV provides access to Scotland’s Six Nations matches. Premier Sports offers comprehensive club rugby throughout the URC season. And Amazon Prime is emerging as a new streaming option for international fixtures.
With a range of TV, online and mobile platforms available, Scottish rugby can be watched from almost anywhere. Join the crowds down at the local pub or get tickets to Murrayfield for the ultimate live experience.