How to watch Nations Championship Rugby 2026 Round 2 for free from anywhere
Our in-house cybersecurity experts and journalists, renowned for major reports like The Mother of All Breaches, conduct transparent, unbiased VPN testing and in-depth analysis.
With 750+ articles crafted based on real-world research, we empower readers to make informed purchasing decisions through first-hand expertise.
Learn more
Round 2 of the Nations Championship kicks off this Saturday, July 11, with three standout fixtures: Fiji take on England at Liverpool's Hill Dickinson Stadium (16:10 EEST), Japan host Ireland in Newcastle, Australia (13:10 EEST), and Australia face France in Brisbane (10:40 EEST). As with Round 1, every match remains free to watch in the UK, Ireland, and France.
Round 1 delivered plenty of drama: New Zealand edged France 34–32 in Christchurch, Japan upset Italy 27–10 in Tokyo, Ireland came from behind to beat Australia 33–31 in Sydney, Wales beat Fiji 39–24 in Cardiff, South Africa thrashed England 45–21 in Johannesburg, and Scotland got the better of Argentina 47–38 in Cordoba. That result leaves South Africa and Japan as the top two sides in the Southern Hemisphere pool, with New Zealand third heading into Round 2. Wales and Scotland top the Northern Hemisphere standings.
Where to watch Nations Championship Rugby 2026
Here's where to watch the Nations Championship across major markets:
| Country | Streaming Service | Price |
| United Kingdom | ITVX / ITV / STV | Free |
| Ireland | Virgin Media Play | Free |
| France | TF1+ | Free |
| Australia | Stan Sport / 9Now (Wallabies home games only) | From AU$20/month / Free (9Now) |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | From NZ$54.99/month |
| South Africa | SuperSport | Varies by DStv package |
| United States | RugbyPass TV | Free (registration required) |
| Italy | Sky Sport Italia | Paid |
| Japan | Wowow | Paid |
| Global (rest of world) | RugbyPass TV | Free (registration required) |
Match schedule
| Round | Match | Venue | Date | Status |
| Round 1 | New Zealand 34–32 France | Christchurch | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 1 | Japan 27–10 Italy | Tokyo | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 1 | Australia 31–33 Ireland | Sydney | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 1 | Fiji 24–39 Wales | Cardiff | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 1 | South Africa 45–21 England | Johannesburg | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 1 | Argentina 38–47 Scotland | Cordoba | July 4 | Completed |
| Round 2 | Australia v France (10:40 EEST) | Brisbane | July 11 | Up next |
| Round 2 | Japan v Ireland (13:10 EEST) | Newcastle, Australia | July 11 | Up next |
| Round 2 | Fiji v England (16:10 EEST) | Liverpool | July 11 | Up next |
| Round 2 | New Zealand v Italy (08:10 EEST) | Wellington | July 11 | Up next |
| Round 2 | South Africa v Scotland (18:40 EEST) | Pretoria | July 11 | Up next |
| Round 2 | Argentina v Wales (22:10 EEST) | San Juan | July 11 | Up next |
How to watch Nations Championship Rugby 2026 for free
The entire Nations Championship 2026 is available for free on ITVX in the UK, Virgin Media Play in Ireland, and TF1+ in France. All three platforms carry every match live and on demand at no cost – but they're geo-restricted to their home countries due to licensing agreements. If you're traveling abroad or living outside the UK, Ireland, or France, a VPN lets you connect to a server in the right country and access the free stream legally. Check out the best VPNs for streaming to find the right option for you.
- Choose a reliable VPN. We recommend NordVPN for streaming the Nations Championship. It uses the fast NordLynx protocol for smooth HD rugby streaming, and supports Smart DNS for compatible smart TVs. NordVPN is currently offering up to 75% off 2-year plans.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or supported smart TV).
- Connect to a server in the UK (for ITVX), Ireland (for Virgin Media Play), or France (for TF1+).
- Go to the free streaming platform. Open ITVX, Virgin Media Play, or TF1+ in your browser or app.
- Create a free account if required. ITVX and Virgin Media Play both require free registration. You may need to enter a valid UK or Irish postcode during signup – simply use any valid postcode from that country (Google "London postcode" or "Dublin postcode" for examples).
- Start streaming for free. Watch all 42 Nations Championship matches live and on demand, including Finals Weekend at Twickenham in November.
How to watch in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia
How to watch in the United Kingdom
In the UK, ITV and STV hold exclusive rights to every Nations Championship 2026 match. All 42 fixtures stream free on ITVX and air across ITV's terrestrial channels. For Round 2 on Saturday, July 11, ITV1 carries a marathon run of matches back-to-back: New Zealand v Italy, Australia v France, Japan v Ireland, Fiji v England, and South Africa v Scotland. Argentina v Wales, the late kick-off, switches over to ITV4. All six matches also stream live on ITVX.
ITVX is free to use but requires a short registration. You'll need a valid TV Licence to stream live TV in the UK. Wales matches also air on S4C with Welsh-language commentary, available on BBC iPlayer and S4C Clic.
How to watch in Ireland
Free-to-air Virgin Media Television is showing every Nations Championship fixture on its Virgin Media Play streaming platform in Ireland. All 42 matches stream live and on demand for free.
For Round 2, Virgin Media One is devoted to rugby coverage all day on Saturday, July 11, showing all six matches — including a highlights programme filling the gap between South Africa v Scotland and Argentina v Wales. Every fixture also streams on Virgin Media Play.
Virgin Media Play is free to use but requires registration before you can access content.
How to watch in France
Free broadcaster TF1 has picked up exclusive rights to the entire Nations Championship in France. Every game streams on TF1+, with most matches also airing on TF1 or TMC broadcast channels.
For Round 2, TF1 broadcasts Australia v France and Argentina v Wales, while Japan v Ireland, Fiji v England, and South Africa v Scotland air on TMC. All six matches stream on TF1+.
How to watch in the United States
In countries where no broadcaster purchased Nations Championship rights – including the United States – you can watch every match on RugbyPass TV, World Rugby's official streaming platform. It's free to use but requires registration before you can access the live streams.
How to watch in Australia
Down under, all 42 Nations Championship 2026 matches stream on Stan Sport, which costs AU$20/month as an add-on to a standard Stan subscription (AU$12/month). Stan Sport also carries Premier League, Champions League, and other major rugby tournaments. Every Wallabies home game is also available for free on 9Now and Channel 9.
How to watch in Canada
Canada does not have a confirmed broadcaster for the Nations Championship 2026. Viewers can access the tournament for free on RugbyPass TV with registration.
How to watch Nations Championship Rugby 2026 on different devices
Not every streaming service runs on every device, and VPN availability also varies by platform. The table below shows exactly what works where so you can pick the easiest setup for your screen.
| Device | ITVX | Virgin Media Play | TF1+ | NordVPN | How to use VPN |
| Web browser (desktop) | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| Web browser (mobile) | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| iPhone / iPad | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android phone / tablet | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android TV / Google TV | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Amazon Fire TV | App | Sideload | App | Yes | Native app |
| Apple TV | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Samsung TV (Tizen) | App | No | App | No | Smart DNS or router |
| LG TV (webOS) | App | No | App | No | Smart DNS or router |
| Roku | No | No | No | No | Router or Smart DNS |
| PlayStation | Web/cast | Web/cast | Web | No | Router |
| Xbox | Web/cast | Web/cast | Web | No | Router |
The web browser is the easiest path on any device. No app install, no app store region issues – just connect the VPN and open the broadcaster's site. Devices without a native VPN app (Samsung TV, LG TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox) need either a router-level VPN setup or the provider's Smart DNS feature. NordVPN supports both methods and publishes detailed setup guides for major router models.
Best VPNs to watch Nations Championship Rugby 2026
The VPNs below have been tested for international rugby streaming, with fast speeds, reliable unblocking of UK, Irish, and French free broadcasters, and stable HD playback for live sports. These are the top recommendations for watching Nations Championship 2026 from anywhere.
- NordVPN – best overall for streaming. NordVPN starts at $3.49/month on the 2-year plan, with NordLynx delivering approximately 83% of baseline speeds in our tests. Smart DNS support and reliable unblocking of ITVX, Virgin Media Play, and TF1+ make it the strongest pick for accessing Nations Championship matches abroad. Read our full NordVPN review for details.
- Surfshark – best budget option. Surfshark starts at $2.49/month with unlimited simultaneous connections. The modern WireGuard protocol holds around 82% of baseline speeds in our tests, which is enough for smooth HD coverage of free streams from ITVX, Virgin Media Play, or TF1+. See our Surfshark review for more.
- Proton VPN – best for privacy-focused users. Proton VPN starts at $2.99/month and operates under Swiss privacy jurisdiction. Streaming performance is solid for live rugby, and the service even offers a free plan with limited features. Check our Proton VPN review for the full breakdown.
Frequently asked questions about Nations Championship Rugby 2026
What is the Nations Championship 2026?
The Nations Championship 2026 is a new biennial international rugby tournament featuring 12 teams: the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales) and the Rugby Championship (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa), plus Fiji and Japan. The format splits teams into two groups (Northern vs Southern Hemisphere) competing across six rounds – three in July, three in November – culminating in Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham from November 27–29, 2026. A total of 42 matches will be played across the tournament.
When does the Nations Championship 2026 start?
The Nations Championship 2026 kicked off on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with New Zealand beating France 34–32, Japan upsetting Italy 27–10, Ireland edging Australia 33–31, Wales beating Fiji 39–24, South Africa thrashing England 45–21, and Scotland defeating Argentina 47–38. The tournament is now underway, with Round 2 taking place on Saturday, July 11, 2026, featuring New Zealand v Italy, Australia v France, Japan v Ireland, Fiji v England, South Africa v Scotland, and Argentina v Wales. The tournament continues through Round 3 on July 18, resumes in November for the Northern Hemisphere Series, and concludes with Finals Weekend at Twickenham from November 27–29, 2026.
Can I watch the Nations Championship for free?
Yes – the entire tournament is free in the UK on ITVX, Ireland on Virgin Media Play, and France on TF1+. Australia offers Wallabies home games free on 9Now. The US and rest of world can watch for free on RugbyPass TV with registration. All free streams are geo-restricted to their home countries, so viewers abroad will need a VPN to access them.
How can I watch the Nations Championship from abroad?
Free streams on ITVX, Virgin Media Play, and TF1+ are geo-blocked outside their home countries due to licensing restrictions. A VPN lets you connect to a UK, Irish, or French server to access the free stream from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN – connect to a server in the right country, then open the streaming platform as normal. The same technique works for travelers who already subscribe to paid services like Stan Sport (Australia), Sky Sport NZ (New Zealand), or SuperSport (South Africa) and lose access when they leave home. Check out the best VPNs for streaming for more options.
Where can I watch Nations Championship highlights and replays?
UK: ITVX offers full match replays on demand for all 42 matches. Ireland: Virgin Media Play carries on-demand replays of every fixture. France: TF1+ streams all matches on demand. Global: World Rugby's official YouTube channel and RugbyPass TV will likely publish highlights and clips after each match. Broadcaster YouTube channels including ITV Football may also post free clips – confirm individual channels closer to each match. On-demand replays on ITVX, Virgin Media Play, and TF1+ are geo-blocked the same way as the live streams, so the same VPN technique unlocks the full on-demand catalog from abroad.
