Saturday 3 February 2001

All times GMT
1220 Football Focus
1320 Rugby Union build-up
1400 Rugby Union - Italy v Ireland
1545 Football half times
1600 Rugby Union - Wales v England - 1st Half
1645 Football full times
1655 Wales v England - 2nd Half
1740 Final Score
Events May Alter Timings

Rugby Union

Grandstand comes live from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff at the start of the 2001 Six Nations championship.

Wales take on defending champions England in a match that always provokes the passions and guarantees a tremendous tussle.

England will be looking for a strong team performance to begin the defence of their title while the Welsh will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the crushing defeat they suffered at Twickenham last season.

Kick off is at 1600GMT.

Commentators: Bill McLaren and Jonathan Davies

But before Wales v England, Italy and Ireland have the honour of kicking off the championship at the Flaminio Stadium at 1400GMT.

The Italians' debut season in the 2000 competition was a steep learning curve.

Last year, Ireland recorded their best ever Six Nation's result against Italy at Lansdowne Road with Ronan O'Gara announcing his arrival on the international scene by scoring 30 of their 60 points.

The Italians are a different proposition at home though. They recorded the shock score-line of the tournament in their first match by beating Scotland 34-20.

Commentators: Nigel Starmer-Smith and Phillip Matthews

BBC Two

Sunday 4 February 2001

1335 Rugby Union build up
1400 Rugby Union - France v Scotland
1545 Racing
1555 Skiing
1635 Snooker
Events May Alter Timings

Rugby Union

Scotland make the trip to the Stade de France hoping to build on their final day victory over England in last year's competition.

That Calcutta Cup victory was their only win in last year's inaugural Six Nations tournament.

It will be a tough task to beat the French, a supremely talented side who will be chasing their seventh Championship trophy but their first since 1998.

Commentators: Eddie Butler and Gavin Hastings

Racing: The Irish Gold Cup

Coverage from Leopardstown of Ireland's most prestigious steeplechase.

First run in 1924, it has been won in the past by such greats as Jodami, Carvills Hill, Imperial Call, Danoli and Willie Mullins' Florida Pearl, who will be bidding for a third consecutive win this year.

Expect today's winner to feature strongly in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Skiing - World Championships

Hazel Irvine introduces coverage of the Women's Downhill from St Anton, Austria.

Defending champion Renate Goetschl leads the home challenge as the Austrians aim to continue their dominance of Alpine Skiing. But look out for Italy's Isolde Kostner - she's been the stand-out downhill racer so far this season.

Commentators: Matt Chilton and Graham Bell

Snooker: Benson and Hedges Masters

Second round action from the Wembley Conference Centre, with last year's champion Matthew Stevens beginning the defence of his title against Yorkshire's Paul Hunter.

With the world's leading players, including Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry all involved, Stevens will have to be at his best to lift the crown again.

Commentators: Clive Everton, Ray Edmonds, John Virgo and Dennis Taylor.