**Rugby Fans Seek Alternative Viewing as England Face France in Twickenham Clash Not Broadcast on Television**
Today sees England’s rugby union side return to the field in a much-anticipated encounter against France at London’s Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. While the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia continues to attract widespread attention this summer, England’s home fixture marks an important moment for head coach Steve Borthwick and his emerging squad—albeit under unusual circumstances given the game’s absence from traditional television schedules.
The clash with France offers Borthwick an early opportunity to assess new player combinations ahead of England’s upcoming two-match tour of Argentina. With 13 of his regular squad members currently away under Andy Farrell’s stewardship on Lions duty, Borthwick has turned to alternative options eager to make an impression and push their claims for future national selection. The game, scheduled to kick off at 3.15pm on Saturday 21 June, presents these hopefuls with an invaluable platform.
Notably, this fixture is England’s first since they overwhelmed Wales 68-14 in Cardiff, rounding off their Six Nations campaign in confident style and clinching second place in the championship standings. That dominant performance has heightened expectations amongst supporters, who are keen to see whether England can maintain their momentum with a reshuffled team.
For their part, France have not travelled light. Head coach Fabien Galthié has selected what is described as an ‘A’ team—rife with promising talents who are making waves in the Top 14 and domestic competitions. Despite some big names being rested, the French squad represents a significant challenge for England, ensuring this mid-summer contest carries no shortage of intrigue.
In a move that has caught many fans off guard, the match has not been picked up by any major television broadcaster in the UK. With terrestrial and subscription TV channels passing over the fixture, those eager to tune in will need to make alternative arrangements. Fortunately, free access is available through RugbyPass TV, an online streaming service covering a range of international rugby events. Supporters simply need to create an account via the website, with streaming set to begin shortly before kick-off.
Looking at the team line-ups, England’s starting XV features the likes of Carpenter at full-back and Feyi-Waboso on the wing, with Ford steering play from fly-half and George captaining the side from hooker. Among the replacements, seasoned names such as Dombrandt and Quirke offer depth. For France, Attissogbe dons the full-back jersey, backed by an all-action back row of Fischer, Guillard, and Tixeront, and the experienced Slimani anchoring the scrum at tighthead prop.
Borthwick has expressed particular excitement over the return of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, noting the player’s impressive fitness and boundless enthusiasm in training after a recent lay-off. “He’s full of energy. You really have to hold him back at times, he just wants to get stuck in,” the head coach remarked, underlining the youthful determination being injected into the squad.
Observers will also be watching closely to gauge the balance between experienced campaigners and up-and-coming prospects. With a trip to South America and a one-off fixture against the USA in Washington on the horizon, today’s match represents more than just a friendly—it is a critical step in shaping England’s future direction under Borthwick’s leadership.
Given the absence of a traditional TV broadcast, rugby supporters up and down the country are adapting to the realities of digital streaming, reflecting the evolving ways in which sport is consumed in the digital age. This fixture could serve as a test case for how fans engage with the game when scheduled outside of the mainstream broadcast model.
With the whistle set to blow at Twickenham, both England and France have a golden opportunity to fine-tune their squads, unearth new stars, and entertain fans eager for summertime international rugby amidst a changing media landscape. Whether this experiment proves a success will be closely monitored as the sport continues to adapt in the years ahead.