Six Nations decider tops French television viewing figures

Despite a strange end to the elongated 2020 Guinness Six Nations, television viewing figures for France versus Ireland were strong, French media auditors have revealed.

The tournament drew to a close on Saturday after 274 days, with England winning their first title for three years, but was the final game in Paris that drew eyeballs.

According to French media, the tournament decider managed to garner an average of 5.6 million viewers, with a peak of 6.3 million viewers. With France locked down, this was over a fifth of all viewers (22.4 per cent), the most viewed programme in its time slot on Saturday.

It was also 1.5 million more than watched the match against Wales the weekend before.

While they didn't win the tournament, there is no denying French rugby is on a high. A strong show last year in Japan was carried into the Six Nations, where their trademark flair and adventure has once again been on show.

It bodes well for their hosting of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

THE SIX NATIONS IN NUMBERS

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the numbers behind a tournament that took nearly nine months to complete because of the coronavirus pandemic.

274 – the number of days this season’s Six Nations lasted for.

7 – the number of times England have won the Six Nations title.

149 – the world record number of Test match appearances set by Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones during this season’s tournament.

5 – the number of tries conceded by Scotland in this season’s Six Nations, giving them the best defensive record.

15 – the number of times Italy have finished bottom of the Six Nations table.

57 – the number of points scored by France fly-half Romain Ntamack, the top scorer in this season’s Six Nations.

4 – the number of touchdowns scored by France captain Charles Ollivon, the top try-scorer in the 2020 Six Nations.

87 – the number of tackles made by France lock Bernard Le Roux in the tournament.

498 – the number of metres made in the competition by Ireland back Jacob Stockdale.

78 – the number of carries made by Ireland number eight CJ Stander.