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The best live sport on TV this week: 6 to 13 May
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The Women’s Six Nations continues, plus key football matches in the Premier League and the EFL play-offs as well as rugby league, cycling, cricket and more
By Chris Miller, Feature Writer
- Published
- 6 May 2026
It’s a big week of rugby action in both codes, with huge matches in the Women’s Six Nations, the PREM and the URC, as well as the Challenge Cup semi-finals in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Don’t miss the EFL play-offs, as four clubs from each division strive to make the step up for greater glory and rewards, while the title races continue in the Premier League, Scottish Premiership and WSL. Elsewhere there are two prestigious cycling events and the start of a summer of international cricket.
Scroll down for your sporting highlights in the week ahead (Wednesday 6 to Wednesday 13 May) in our new-look guide to live sport. And don’t forget to bookmark this page for your weekly sporting picks on Virgin TV.
Wednesday 6 May
Pick of the day
Cycling: Women’s UCI World Tour – Vuelta A España Stage 4
2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
The riders head out on a 115.6km stage that takes them through the hills of Galicia in Spain’s north-west, from Monforte de Lemos to Antas de Ulla. Noemi Rüegg and Shari Bossuyt bagged the first stage victories but it was German cyclist Franziska Koch of the FDJ United-Suez team who emerged as the early leader.
What else to watch:
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
10am, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Horse Racing: Live From Chester
1pm, ITV4 HD (CH 118)
Cricket: Indian Premier League – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Punjab Kings
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Football: UEFA Champions League Semi-final 2nd Leg – Bayern Munich v Paris Saint-Germain
7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Football: Women’s Super League – Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal
7.30pm, BBC Three HD (CH 107/113) + 7.35pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Baseball: MLB – San Diego Padres @ San Francisco Giants
8.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 522)
Thursday 7 May
Pick of the day
Football: UEFA Europa League Semi-final 2nd Leg – Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
With this tie finely poised at 1-0 to Nottingham Forest, both managers rotated in the Premier League between the legs: Villa lost at home to Spurs, while Forest won at Chelsea. Could Vítor Pereira’s side carry that momentum into the Europa League and reach the final? Both teams are aiming to break a European final drought of more than 40 years.
What else to watch:
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
10am + 6pm, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Horse Racing: Live From Chester
1pm, ITV4 HD (CH 118)
Cycling: Women’s UCI World Tour – Vuelta A España Stage 5
2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Motorsport: World Rally Championship – Portugal
3pm + 6pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 118)
Football: UEFA Conference League Semi-final 2nd Leg – Crystal Palace v Shakhtar Donetsk
7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Darts: PDC Premier League Week 14 – Leeds
7pm, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Friday 8 May
Pick of the day
Rugby Union: United Rugby Championship – Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff
7.15pm, Premier Sports 2 HD (CH 529) + Apps > BBC iPlayer
A top-six clash at Scotstoun Stadium in the penultimate round of this URC campaign. The Warriors have a chance of topping the table, while Cardiff still need points to secure a place in the knockouts and a Champions Cup slot for next season. In their previous meeting, Glasgow scored eight tries in a 52-36 victory over the Blues.
What else to watch:
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
10am + 6pm, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 1
11am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 523)
Golf: European Tour – Catalunya Championship Day 2
12.30pm, Sky Sports Golf HD (CH 506)
Football: EFL Championship Semi-final 1st Leg – Hull City v Millwall
7pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Football: Bundesliga – Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt
7.20pm, Apps > BBC iPlayer
Basketball: NBA Play-offs – New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers, Game 3
11.30pm, Apps > Prime Video
Saturday 9 May
Pick of the day
Rugby Union: Women’s Six Nations – Italy v England
1.30pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)
World champions England have already romped to the Triple Crown and racked up 179 points in victories over Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With a showdown against their great rivals France looming, they need to stay on track for the Grand Slam in Parma. Gloucester-Hartpury’s Emma Sing will come in at full-back for the Red Roses alongside Ellie Kildunne and Mia Venner on the wings.
What else to watch:
Football: Premier League – Liverpool v Chelsea
11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Football: Women’s Super League – Aston Villa v Arsenal
11.30am, Sky One HD (CH 109) + Sky Sports Premier League HD (CH 502)
Football: EFL Championship Semi-final 1st Leg – Middlesbrough v Southampton
12pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Rugby League: Challenge Cup Semi-final – St Helens v Wigan Warriors
2pm, BBC One HD (CH 101)
Rugby Union: PREM – Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints
2.30pm, ITV4 HD (CH 118) + 3pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521) + TNT Sports Ultimate (CH 525)
Basketball: NBA Play-offs – Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 3
7pm, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Sunday 10 May
Pick of the day
Rugby League: Challenge Cup Semi-final – Warrington Wolves v Hull Kingston Rovers
3.45pm, BBC Two HD (CH 102)
After winning their first Challenge Cup for 45 years, Hull KR have made an impressive defence of the trophy so far, with crushing victories in each of the three rounds. Warrington, a place ahead of them in the Super League table, will be a tougher test for Willie Peters’ Rovers. It’s a semi-final double-header at Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium, with St Helens v Leeds Rhinos in the Women’s Challenge Cup at 1pm in Apps > BBC iPlayer.
What else to watch:
Cricket: England v New Zealand – 1st Women’s ODI
10.30am, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Motorsport: British Touring Car Championship – Brands Hatch
10.45am, ITV4 HD (CH 118)
Football: Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Rangers
11am, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Football: Women’s FA Cup Semi-final – Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion
11.45am, Channel 4 HD (CH 104) + TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Motorsport: MotoGP Of France – Race
12.15pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 522)
Football: Premier League – West Ham United v Arsenal
4pm, Sky Sports Premier League HD (CH 503)
Monday 11 May
Pick of the day
Football: Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
6.30pm, Sky Sports Premier League HD (CH 502)
Wins over Wolves and Aston Villa helped lift Spurs out of the drop zone, but their Premier League status is still in serious jeopardy. Leeds aren’t quite safe yet, so there’s plenty riding on this clash. Evidence of new coach Roberto De Zerbi’s impact on the Tottenham side was clear, especially in the Villa Park victory, so fans will be praying the improvement continues.
What else to watch:
Ice Hockey: NHL Play-offs – Buffalo Sabres @ Montréal Canadiens, Game 3
12.30am, Premier Sports 1 HD (CH 528)
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
10am + 6pm, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Cricket: Indian Premier League – Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Pool: Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup – Week 8
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Football: EFL Championship Play-off 2nd Leg – Millwall v Hull City
7pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
Football: Serie A – Napoli v Bologna
7.35pm, BBC Alba (CH 161) + Apps > BBC iPlayer
Tuesday 12 May
Pick of the day
Football: EFL Championship Play-off Semi-final 2nd Leg – Southampton v Middlesbrough
7pm, Sky Sports Football HD (CH 503)
After a wildly inconsistent first half of the Championship season, Southampton finished with a 19-game unbeaten run that took them to fourth. Middlesbrough were in the two promotion places for almost every day of the campaign between August and April, but ended up fifth. So the momentum appears to be with Saints – but in the play-offs, anything can happen. Wembley and the promise of a Premier League bounty await the winners.
What else to watch:
Basketball: NBA Play-offs – Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 4
12am, Sky Sports Action HD (CH 510)
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
10am, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 4
12pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Motorsport: IndyCar Indianapolis 500 – Practice
5pm + 9pm, Sky Sports F1® HD (CH 507)
Cricket: Indian Premier League – Gujarat Titans v Sunrisers Hyderabad
2.50pm, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Football: Scottish Premiership Play-off Semi-final 1st Leg – Dunfermline Athletic or Arbroath v Partick Thistle
7.30pm, Apps > BBC iPlayer
Wednesday 13 May
Pick of the day
Cricket: England v New Zealand – 2nd Women’s ODI
10.30am, Sky Sports Cricket HD (CH 505)
Northampton is the venue for the second match in this series, which England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is missing thanks to a calf injury; Charlie Dean leads the team in her absence. The White Ferns are playing three ODIs and three T20s on this tour as they prepare to defend their T20 World Cup title in England in June and July.
What else to watch:
Cycling: Men’s UCI World Tour – Giro D’Italia Stage 5
10.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Tennis: ATP/WTA Tour – Italian Open
12pm, Sky Sports Tennis HD (CH 520) + Sky Sports+
Baseball: MLB – Los Angeles Angels @ Cleveland Guardians
6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 521)
Football: Women’s Super League – Arsenal v Everton
6.30pm, Sky Sports Mix HD (CH 511)
Football: Premier League – Manchester City v Crystal Palace
7pm, Sky Sports Premier League HD (CH 501)
Football: Coppa Italia Final – Lazio v Inter Milan
7.55pm, Premier Sports 1 HD (CH 528)
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