England's Six Nations matches will be back on the BBC next season after Sky yesterday confirmed they will not be bidding to screen the tournament.

It brings an end to the controversy which arose when the Rugby Football Union decided to go it alone, and negotiated separately for broadcast rights for England's home games in the annual competition.

Sky Sports confirmed they would not make a bid for the Six Nations broadcast rights.

A spokesman said in a statement: "We see England's showpiece autumn internationals at Twickenham as the major events in our rugby schedules and a new contract for those matches kicks in later this year.

"We shall also continue to cover the domestic game at all levels, plus all tours by home nations and the Lions - to the Southern hemisphere, alongside the Tri-Nations tournament."

Sky have already agreed a deal, starting in August, for live coverage of all England internationals outside the Six Nations, including the autumn internationals, home matches in the warm-up to the 2003 World Cup and the annual England versus Barbarians match.

A new four-year deal to broadcast the Zurich Premiership and end-of-season Zurich Championship began this season.

Six Nations organisers will be disappointed by Sky's decision, as they hoped a bidding war would drive up the price.

• Wales A turned on the power in the second half to steamroller their way to 30-23 Six Nations victory over Scotland at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

After the fast and furious first half Wales went back to basics and used their pack to grind out a result as they shut out the Scots after the interval.