Six Nations pay TV ban calls backed by Senedd inquiry

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Ms Jewell said rugby in Wales “plays a unique role in our national life” and “the Six Nations holds a special place for Welsh audiences”.

“We’ve heard loudly and clearly about the challenges the sport faces, in terms of reduced playing numbers in Wales,” she said.

“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’.”

The Plaid Cymru Senedd member referred to what she called the “damaging effects” of cricket going behind a paywall in 2006.

“Between 2006 and 2015, there was a 32% reduction in playing numbers,” she said. “The same cannot be allowed to happen to rugby.

“Growing up, young people in Wales are inspired to take part in sport by watching rugby and it’s essential that the Six Nations tournament stays as accessible as possible.”

Plaid Cymru welcomed the report, accusing Conservative UK ministers of making a “short-sighted decision not to designate the Six Nations Championship as free-to-air”.

Heledd Fychan, who speaks for Plaid on culture, said the decision “perfectly incapsulates why broadcasting must be devolved to Wales”.

“We must be able to make decisions to safeguard our culture and language,” she said.