At present, a six nations match attracts around 8.3 million viewers per match. This in turn creates a huge interest in Rugby at grass routes level, with local rugby clubs attracting new players from the age of 6 and upwards.

Having been involved with coaching rugby, it is not just skills and tactics that our youngsters learn, it is respect and camaraderie. They develop confidence, unknown skills, and friends for life.

If this tournament were to go to a subscription service, I fear that viewing figures would plummet, and have a detrimental affect on Junior clubs throughout the countries of the 6 nations. Clubs would find it harder to attract new players, and especially young children to the sport. This would also have a rolling affect on the senior teams in the club, and therefore, eventually on the professional sides.

I am an Englishman living in Wales, and although there is friendly rivalry on match days, we are united in the belief that this would have a detrimental affect on the future of rugby throughout the 6 nations.

We would urge you as the secretary of state to put the six nations into the "Group A" of protected sporting events that must stay on free-to-air television.