‘Sometimes we just can’t win’

RTÉ head of sport Ryle Nugent has been criticised for rugby-centric scheduling - but he says the station has got it right when it comes to balancing public and commercial obligations

Ryle Nugent, head of sport for RTÉ: ‘Our coverage has to be about national teams, national games and major events’ Picture: Bryan Meade

On first viewing, the bullets appeared to pierce the armour.

The accusations were about the coverage RTÉ television has given to rugby in recent years. Look at it this way, when was the last time you saw a national under-20 team playing repeatedly on prime time in any other sport? When was the last time a national women’s team outside of rugby had their yearly schedule chalked down to go live? When was ...