Six Nations.

It may be several months away yet, but the Six Nations is the next big event on the rugby union calendar, and speculation is already rife if Ireland can defend the coveted championship, and who will carry away the far less coveted wooden spoon.

The way fans engage with live sport has changed, with live streaming becoming increasingly popular. The gap between those who stream and those who watch live TV is still considerable (in TV’s favour), but it is becoming ever closer. 

A major reason behind this trend is the fact that we carry with us such powerful mobile devices, at increasingly affordable prices, and the interactivity and immersion live streaming brings, not just to live sport but to myriad forms of entertainment as well. Let’s take a closer look. 

The Live Streaming Revolution 

Based on stats alone, many rugby fans enjoying the Six Nations from Ireland and the UK will be doing so via streaming services. In the UK, 18.8 million households subscribe to one of the major streaming platforms such as Netflix or Prime, and these services have expanded from the video-on-demand model to include live streaming. Other areas of entertainment have also begun using live streaming as a way to make their services more immersive — online casinos are one such area — for example at the best live casinos for Ireland players can find the optimum spots where live dealer games such as blackjack and poker bring the action directly to your mobile or laptop. 

The wider world of video gaming is also an area that has been revolutionised by live streaming, spawning countless dedicated YouTube channels and making multi-millionaires of some of their presenters.  And what does this mean for the Six Nations? Well, judging by the recent figures for the Euro 2024 competition in Germany, live streaming should make up a hefty slice of the viewing figures for the tournament — ITV X reported that the 19 matches of the Euros were streamed more than 84 million times. Rugby may trail football in terms of popularity, but the Six Nations is a tournament that always captures the imagination, so expect a large live-streaming turnout. 

The Tournament

Ireland will run out as defending champions, having won their 16th title last time round in dominant fashion. Wales, on the other hand, will be looking to rebuild after a chastising performance saw them finish bottom of the table without a victory to console them. England will always pose a threat to any of the other five nations, but France are also strong. Italy will be buoyed by a strong performance last time out, defeating Wales and Scotland, and securing a draw with France. 

The tournament will kick off in Stade de France, Paris, on 31st January 2025 with the French taking on Wales, and will finish on 15th March in the same stadium. Ireland look like favourites, but with such high stakes, no one will be taking anything for granted. 

Live streaming may not have usurped television just yet, but the levels of online interest for previous sporting events, as well as the growing presence of the medium across other entertainment sectors suggest that millions will stream the Six Nations. However you choose to watch, we’re all in for a wild ride.