There are loads of ways to watch international rugby’s newest tournament this summer – including several ways to watch for FREE.
Rugby’s newest international competition is underway, and there are plenty of ways to watch the Nations Championship wherever you are in the world – including several options to tune in for FREE.
New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Wales, South Africa and Scotland were all victorious on the opening day, and they head into the second round of matches looking to build on their winning starts. France, Italy, Australia, Fiji, England and Argentina, meanwhile, will be doing everything they can to avoid being left behind in the race for the inaugural Nations Championship title.
The Saturday action kicks off when the All Blacks welcome Italy to Wellington. Next up, France take on World Cup 2027 hosts Australia in Brisbane, before Newcastle, New South Wales, becomes Japan’s temporary home for their match against Ireland.
Then Fiji ‘host’ England at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, Scotland face a daunting trip to Pretoria to face the mighty Springboks, and Argentina and Wales end a packed day of rugby in San Juan.
With around 16 hours of non-stop oval-ball action, it’s enough to make the Six Nations’ Super Saturday look quiet. The good news is that you can watch every single second as it happens, and – even better – Nations Championship live streams are available for FREE if you live in the UK, Ireland or France.
Below we’ve rounded up details of how to watch the Nations Championship 2026 wherever you are in the world – including details of how you can use a VPN to access your usual streaming services if you’re travelling overseas this weekend.
Quick Guide
– Nations Championship dates: 4 July – November 29, 2026
– Nations Championship broadcasters: ITV (UK), Virgin Media (Ireland), TF1 (France), SuperSport (South Africa), Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sport NZ (New Zealand), Wowow (Japan)
– Nations Championship FREE Streams: ITVX, Virgin Media Play, TF1+, 9Now (Australia home games only)
– Watch Nations Championship from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free
Watch for FREE: Nations Championship free streams
Viewers in the UK, Ireland and France can enjoy the Nations Championship action for free.
- In the UK, you can watch all 42 Nations Championship games on ITV’s TV channels and the ITVX streaming service. Games featuring Wales are also available with Welsh language commentary on S4C, BBC iPlayer and S4C Clic.
- In Ireland, Nations Championship live streams for every game will be available on Virgin Media Play. Selected matches will also be available on terrestrial channel Virgin Media One.
- In France, free broadcaster TF1 has the exclusive rights to show Nations Championship matches. Every fixture will be on streaming service TF1+, with most matches also aired on broadcast channels TF1 or TMC.
Rugby fans in Australia can watch every Wallabies game for free on Channel 9 and the 9Now streaming service.
How to watch the Nations Championship from anywhere
Being abroad doesn’t have to stop you watching the Nations Championship. A VPN bypasses geo-blocking by changing your IP address, letting you stream Nations Championship 2026 matches as if you were at home. Tech experts at TechRadar and Tom’s Guide rate NordVPN as world number one, thanks to its low price and unrivalled ability to unblock streaming services.
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What Nations Championship 2026 games are on TV this weekend?
Round 2
Saturday 11 July 2026
- New Zealand v Italy
Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 6.10am BST / 7.10am CET / 7.10am SAST / 3.10pm AEST / 5.10pm NZST / 1.10am EDT / 10.10pm PDT (Friday) - Australia v France
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 8.30am BST / 9.30pm CET / 9.30pm SAST / 5.30pm AEST / 7.30pm NZST / 3.30am EDT / 12.30am PDT - Japan v Ireland
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 12.00pm CET / 12.00pm SAST / 8.00pm AEST / 10.00pm NZST / 6.00am EDT / 3.00am PDT - Fiji v England
Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England
Kick-off: 2.10pm BST / 3.10pm CET / 3.10pm SAST / 11.10pm AEST / 1.10am NZST (Sunday) / 9.10am EDT / 6.10am PDT - South Africa v Scotland
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 4.40pm BST / 5.40pm CET / 5.40pm SAST / 1.40am AEST (Sunday) / 3.40am NZST (Sunday) / 11.40am EDT / 8.40am PDT
- Argentina v Wales
Estadio San Juan de Bicentenario, San Juan
Kick-off: 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CET / 9.00pm SAST / 5.00am AEST (Sunday) / 7.00am NZST (Sunday) / 3.00pm EDT / 12.00pm PDT
How to watch Nations Championship 2026 in the UK
In the UK, ITV has exclusive rights to every Nations Championship 2026 game.
All of the matches will be available on the ITVX streaming service, as well as the broadcaster’s terrestrial channels.
This weekend:
- There’ll be 13 hours of non-stop rugby on ITV1 on Saturday, with New Zealand v Italy, Australia v France, Japan v Ireland, Fiji v England and South Africa v Scotland airing back-to-back on the channel.
- You’ll have to switch over for Argentina v Wales, which will be on ITV4
ITVX is free to use, but you’ll need to complete a short registration to access the service. You also require a valid TV Licence to stream live TV in the UK.
How to watch Nations Championship 2026 in Ireland
Free-to-air Virgin Media Television is showing every Nations Championship fixture on its Virgin Media Play streaming platform in Ireland.
This Saturday, terrestrial channel Virgin Media One will be entirely devoted to the rugby, meaning you can watch all six matches without touching your remote. (There’s even a highlights programme to plug the gap between South Africa v Scotland and Argentina v Wales.)
Virgin Media Play is free to use, but you do need to sign up to the service before you can access its content.
Watch Nations Championship 2026: live stream from South Africa
Springboks fans will be hoping their side can add this new competition to their bulging trophy cabinet, and they can watch all the action on SuperSport.
SuperSport will be familiar to rugby fans in South Africa, with a host of other tournaments airing on the network. You can get SuperSport on your TV via DStv, or you can stream online.
There are various SuperSport packages available, so have a look at what works best for you.
US broadcaster for the 2026 Nations Championship
In countries where no broadcaster has snapped up Nations Championship rights – including the United States – you can watch Nations Championship games on World Rugby’s RugbyPass TV.
It’s free to use, though you do need to register before you can watch any of the action.
Watch Nations Championship 2026 in Australia
Down under? Nations Championship live streams for all 42 games are available through Stan Sport, which is also home to loads of other rugby action and Premier League and Champions League soccer.
It costs $20 a month to add Stan Sport to your general Stan plan ($12 a month).
Every Wallabies home game – including Saturday’s clash with Italy – is also available for free on 9Now and Channel 9.
Live stream the Nations Championship from New Zealand
Sky Sport NZ has the New Zealand rights to the Nations Championship, along with plenty more world-class sporting action – including All Blacks games and Premier League soccer.
You can subscribe to Sky Sport Now from $54.99 per month or $549.99 per year (equivalent to $45.83 per month). Day passes are also available for $29.99.
Watch the Nations Championship in France
Free broadcaster TF1 has picked up the rights to the entire Nations Championship in France.
Every game will be available on the TF1+ streaming platform, with selected matches available across the broadcaster’s TV channels. This weekend:
- Australia v Italy, Australia v France and Argentina v Wales will be on TF1.
- Japan v Ireland, Fiji v England and South Africa v Scotland will be on TMC.
Watch the Nations Championship in Italy
In Italy, 2026 Nations Championship games will air on Sky Sport Italia.
Sky Sport is a paid-for service available on satellite television and its own streaming platform.
Nations Championship live streams in Japan
The Nations Championship broadcaster in Japan is subscription service Wowow.
Upcoming Nations Championship fixtures
Plan your viewing for the last weekend of July Nations Championship fixtures.
Round 3
Saturday 18 July 2026
- Japan v France
National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 9.40am BST / 10.40am CET / 10.40am SAST / 6.40pm AEST / 8.40pm NZST / 4.40am EDT / 1.40am PDT
- New Zealand v Ireland
Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 8.10am BST / 9.10am CET / 9.10am SAST / 5.10pm AEST / 7.10pm NZST / 3.10am EDT / 12.10am PDT - Australia v Italy
HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 11.00am BST / 12.00pm CET / 12.00pm SAST / 8.00pm AEST / 10.00pm NZST / 6.00am EDT / 3.00am PDT
- Fiji v Scotland
Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland
Kick-off: 2.10pm BST / 3.10pm CET / 3.10pm SAST / 11.10pm AEST / 1.10am NZST (Sunday) / 9.10am EDT / 6.10am PDT
- South Africa v Wales
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 4.40pm BST / 5.40pm CET / 5.40pm SAST / 1.40am AEST (Sunday) / 3.40am NZST (Sunday) / 11.40am EDT / 8.40am PDT
- Argentina v England
Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Kick-off: 8.00pm BST / 9.00pm CET / 9.00pm SAST / 5.00am AEST (Sunday) / 7.00am NZST (Sunday) / 3.00pm EDT / 12.00pm PDT
Nations Championship results so far
Round 1
Saturday 4 July 2026
- New Zealand 34 v 32 France
One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
- Japan 27 v 10 Italy
Tokyo Chichibuomiya Stadium, Tokyo
- Australia 31 v 33 Ireland
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
- Fiji 24 v 39 Wales
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
- South Africa 45 v 21 England
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Argentina 38 v 47 Scotland
Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
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