BBC TV Commentator falls ill with food poising during 6 Nations match…

Despite no shock on the scoreline in Rome today with Wales defeating Italy 26-9, there was an upset stomach in the BBC Sport commentary box.

Scottish commentator Andrew Cotter was doing the commentary alongside former Wales Rugby League and Union player Jonathan Davies. However he departed from his commentary position just five minutes into the match at the Stadio Olympico suffering from Food poising / bug.

On twitter Cotter has said this evening… “Good timing, winter vomiting bug. Goooood timing…..”

Jonathan Davies stepped up with an apology to viewers after about a minute silence over Cotter’s disappearance, then he Shane Williams, ex-winger for the Welsh stepped alongside and they managed to get to half time. Albeit not the usual ‘commentary’ as would be the norm!

At half time after carrying the show Davies said: “I’m going for a lie down now,”

For the second half the BBC managed to bring in Huw Llewelyn Davies, who was commentating there for the corporation anyway on S4C, the Welsh speaking channel.

Cotter, who has been a BBC TV Rugby commentator since 2004 and does other sports including Golf, Tennis and Athletics, is due to be at Murrayfield tomorrow for Scotland v Ireland. On being fit for that he tweeted: “Getting there. Hoping to be ok for tomorrow.”

Here is a small video with Davies taking over! …

[Reported by Callum Patterson]