Where to watch 6 Nations Rugby matches in Alpe d'Huez

Find the best places to watch all of this years Rugby action

featured in News & reviews Author Rob Wood, Alpe d'Huez Reporter Updated 25 May 2016

This weekend sees the opening round of matches in the annual Rugby Six Nations Championship, with defending champions Ireland taking on an always strong and passionate Wales.

Meanwhile bookmakers favourites to win the championships, England, under the new management of Australian Legend Eddie Jones, take on Scotland at Murrayfield in the annual battle for the Calcutta Cup, where England will be led for the first time by new captain Dylan Hartley. Meanwhile an always unpredictable France take on an ever improving Italy team in Paris in the championships opening match on Saturday afternoon (3.25pm CET).

The 6 Nations Championships is always highly anticipated and never more so than this year with players eager to impress new coaches and in some cases make up for hugely disappointing World Cup 2015 campaigns.

Rugby is hugely popular in France with the Top14 League providing some real heavyweights in the European game, such as Toulon and Clermont Ferrand – and the annual debate will soon start as to whether the France team can live up to the hype, anticipation and undoubted talent that they have in abundance.

There's no need to miss out on the action when you are here in Alpe d’Huez, with plenty of bars showing all the action.

In the old town you can catch a game at the O’Bar or at the L’Indiana Bar, both bars run by Ex-Pats (Vicky and Chris respectively) will be showing all the live action. In the middle of town Smithy's Tavern, above the Igloo Nightclub, will also be showing the action on 2 huge TV screens. While up in the Main Street, Avenue Les Jeux, O’Sharkeys Bar will have all the games on – and if you fancy taking in the games with a more Gallic atmosphere then try The Freeride Bar (next to the ice rink) where Fabrice will be only too pleased to greet you, and don't forget the fun of the stock trading theme every evening in the Freeride.

Meanwhile in the Les Bergers Commercial complex the both Tiger Bar and Chez Leo will both be showing all the action. Chez Leo is a fantastic little French bar – brilliantly French in its décor and atmosphere, it's a regular haunt for the ESF Ski instructors after a day on the slopes. Host/landlord Leo is incredibly welcoming, but be aware he doesn't speak a word of English.

The games will be shown for the first time on a combination of both BBC1 and ITV1 for English commentary and by TV5 in France.

Commentary to all the games will also be provided on Radio5 Live (MW693 and 909mhz) which is available through the Internet.

Here's the when and where all the action will take place (all times CET):