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Wales’ Six Nations rugby matches must stay on free-to-air television, the Senedd’s culture and sport committee has demanded.

The committee has called on the UK Government to add the competition to a list of protected events, which includes the Olympics, football world cup, and the FA Cup final.

It has also called on the Welsh Government to support the call.

South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell, who chairs the committee, said: “Rugby in Wales plays a unique role in our national life, and in particular the Six Nations holds a special place for Welsh audiences.

“This was never far from our minds when we made the decision to call for it to be protected as a free-to-air tournament.”

The Plaid Cymru deputy leader continued: “We’ve heard loudly and clearly about the challenges the sport faces in terms of reduced playing numbers in Wales.

“Concerns have equally been raised with us about the effects of placing the tournament behind a paywall and the impact that could have on playing numbers – we were told that ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.’”

Ms Jewell pointed to a 32% reduction in cricket player numbers between 2006 and 2015 after the sport went behind a paywall – and said the same can’t be allowed to happen in rugby.

The committee also demanded “essential” Welsh language coverage be offered in full.

The committee’s call was backed by Plaid Cymru’s culture spokesperson, Heledd Fychan, who said rugby is “a part of our culture and identity”.

Meanwhile, Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones, who represents the South Wales East region, agreed with the committee and said: “Calls for the Six Nations to remain free to air are only growing.”

During her time as Wales’ deputy sport minister, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney’s Labour MS Dawn Bowden said the Welsh Government’s position was clear: the Six Nations must remain on free-to-air TV so the majority of the population can watch matches.

However, Abi Tierney, the WRU’s chief executive, warned MSs earlier this year that adding the Six Nations to Ofcom’s category A listed events could be devastating for the whole game.

Ms Tierney, who was appointed in August 2023, told the Senedd’s culture committee that continued investment in Welsh rugby is heavily reliant on money from media rights.

She said: “We absolutely need to strike a balance between the assessment on what reach we need to give with a balance on investment in the game.

“Without this investment we would really struggle to continue to survive as a union.”