The Six Nations may soon be moving to a subscription-based sports channel for Irish viewers, as the tournament has been left off the list of Ireland's compulsory free-to air sporting events.

Denis Naughten, the Communications Minister, has opted to leave the international rugby tournament off the list, despite predecessor Alex White previously stating the event was under consideration.

While the tournament will be broadcast on RTE until TV3 take over the reigns from 2018 until 2021, the future of the tournament's availability on terrestrial television after that point could be in doubt with this decision.

Naughten, who assumed his cabinet position in May of this year, has however included the All-Ireland camogie and ladies' football finals, as well as the men's All Ireland football and hurling finals, Ireland's fixtures in both the soccer and rugby World Cups, and the Irish Grand National and Derby.

Via The Sunday Times