Will 3D add a new dimension to this year's Six Nations Championship? © Getty Images

The annual contest for the Six Nations crown often sets the standard both on and off the field and this year's battle for northern hemisphere supremacy will continue that trend with England's home matches set to be broadcast in 3D.

The clash against Wales on February 6 will be Europe’s first sports event to be screened live in 3D, according to England’s team sponsor O2. The match will be broadcast live in 3D at 40 Odeon and Cineworld cinemas and the cost of this feast for the eyes? Just £12.50 - a fraction of what it would cost you to go to Twickenham - that's if you can get your hands on a ticket - leaving you a bit of hard-earned cash to spend on your popcorn. And if you enjoy the experience then you can do it all again for the match against Ireland on February 27.

It certainly is an exciting innovation and the communal viewing experience harks back to the days when boxing used to be broadcast to the masses via movie theatres in the United States - long before the days before 24/7 sports networks. Interestingly enough, that sport has recently returned to those routes with the added element of high definition. Let's just hope that England put on a show worthy of the innovation and not a repeat of the dour stuff served up in the autumn.

Despite being in its infancy, this year has already been a big one for 3D what with the runaway success of director James Cameron's Avatar film. The blockbuster, that is set to become the highest-grossing film of all-time, opened our eyes to what the technology can do and we are all set to become hooked.

ESPN are at the forefront of the drive to bring top-class sport into your living room. Our broadcast colleagues announced last week that the industry's first 3D network will begin broadcasting in the United States later this year. ESPN 3D will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning June 11 with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match, featuring South Africa versus Mexico, ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer announced. Other events to be produced in 3D include the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, college basketball and football contests, up to 25 World Cup matches and the Summer X Games. Additional events will be announced at a later date.

"ESPN's commitment to 3D is a win for fans and our business partners," Bodenheimer said in a statement. "ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan's viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing."

ESPN has been testing ESPN 3D for more than two years, even showing a USC-Ohio State college football game in select cinemas and to 6,000 fans at the Galen Center on USC's campus.

You will of course have to stump up for a 3D HDTV and acquire some 3D glasses (although there are hopes for a glasses-free version) to see how good it looks in your living room and that will not be cheap with The Guardian reporting that a compatible TV will cost around $2,000 with subscription fees on top. But Sony, Panasonic and Samsung are all reportedly rushing to put out 3D TV models, several of which were promoted at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in anticipation of a high demand.

It may be some time before you can watch the Six Nations in 3D in your living room - the BBC of course have the rights to the Championship - so you may have to make do with a visit to your local multiplex.

UPDATE - Appears to be plenty of consumer-driven buzz around this subject - thanks largely to the media-magnet that is the CES. Exciting times. Interesting take from analysts Zpryme:

"HDTV never had a “killer app” and has consequently taken a decade to gain any real traction—and even then, it’s been largely a result of rapidly falling prices and last year’s switch to digital. Avatar, however, has clearly presented consumers—and the industry at large—with a compelling case for going 3D."
– Alex Perilla-Gayle, Zpryme Director of Consumer Insights