How to watch New Zealand vs France 2026: Nations Championship free live stream
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France – reigning Six Nations champions – open their Nations Championship campaign against the All Blacks at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday, July 4th. Kickoff is at 09:10 CEST / 08:10 BST / 19:10 NZST. It is the marquee fixture of the inaugural tournament: Les Bleus arrive in Christchurch on the back of a Six Nations title won on the final kick of the tournament, walking straight into a fixture against the world's most historic rugby nation.
Where to watch New Zealand vs France
| Country | Platform | Price | Notes |
| France | TF1 / TMC / TF1+ | Free | All Nations Championship matches on TF1+; many also on TF1 or TMC. Free account required. Geo-blocked outside France. |
| United Kingdom | ITV / STV / ITVX | Free | Exclusive free-to-air rights through 2029, all 42 Nations Championship matches. Free ITVX account required. Geo-blocked outside UK. |
| Ireland | Virgin Media Television / Virgin Media Player | Free | Exclusive free-to-air, all 42 matches. Free account required. Geo-blocked outside Ireland. |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ / Sky Sport Now | Paid | Day pass from NZ$29.99; monthly from NZ$54.99. |
| Italy | Sky Italia | Paid | Subscription required. |
How to watch the Nations Championship free with a VPN
France, the UK, and Ireland all have free-to-air rights to every Nations Championship match. All three platforms are geo-restricted and will not load from outside their home country. A VPN gives you a local IP address so the stream loads as it would at home.
- Download and install a VPN on your device. I recommend NordVPN, now 75% OFF!
- Connect to a French server to unlock TF1+ – or a UK server for ITVX, or an Irish server for Virgin Media Player.
- Create a free account on the broadcaster's website. A valid local postal code is required on registration.
- Find the Nations Championship and start streaming the match live.
What time is New Zealand vs France?
Kickoff is at 19:10 NZST on Saturday, July 4th, at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. The table below shows local times for fans around the world.
| Location | Local time | Date |
| Christchurch (NZST) | 19:10 | Saturday, July 4th |
| Sydney (AEST) | 17:10 | Saturday, July 4th |
| Paris (CEST) | 09:10 AM | Saturday, July 4th |
| London (BST) | 08:10 AM | Saturday, July 4th |
| Vilnius (EEST) | 10:10 AM | Saturday, July 4th |
| New York (EDT) | 03:10 AM | Saturday, July 4th |
Match preview: Les Bleus in the fortress
The Nations Championship
The Nations Championship is rugby union's first truly global competition, bringing together all 12 major nations – the Six Nations sides, the Rugby Championship teams, plus Japan and Fiji – across two windows in July and November. The competition has a real standings table, accumulated points, and a Finals Weekend to decide the inaugural champion. For France, who arrive as Six Nations title holders, this fixture in Christchurch is the opening statement of a campaign they are determined to define.
New Zealand – a new era under Dave Rennie
This is Dave Rennie's first match as All Blacks head coach, marking the start of a new coaching era in New Zealand rugby. Ardie Savea leads the side as captain at the front of a 34-man squad that includes four uncapped players: Blues player of the year Anton Segner, along with Josh Moorby, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Xavier Numia. Fullback Will Jordan (calf) and flanker Wallace Sititi (concussion) were named under fitness clouds, with lock Tupou Vaa'i a major doubt. The All Blacks are playing at home, in front of a sold-out Christchurch crowd – a venue where they have not lost to France in recent memory. In their 2025 home series, New Zealand swept France across all three tests: 31-27 in Dunedin, 43-17 in Wellington, and 29-19 in Hamilton.
France – champions, but depleted for Christchurch
France are 2026 Six Nations champions, having won the title on the final kick of the tournament – Thomas Ramos slotting a last-minute penalty to beat England in Paris. But head coach Fabien Galthié's touring squad for this first match is significantly remodelled. The Top 14 final took place days before departure, ruling out all players from the finalist clubs. That means no Antoine Dupont, no Romain Ntamack, no Thomas Ramos, no Grégory Alldritt, and no Louis Bielle-Biarrey for Christchurch. France are not missing players – they are missing an entire tier of world-class talent. The players who stepped forward during the Six Nations, and those lower in the squad hierarchy who have been waiting for this chance, now carry the opener.
The storyline: can France win in New Zealand?
France won a famous 30-29 in Paris in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series to show they can beat the All Blacks. But they have never won a test match on New Zealand soil – a fact the All Blacks are well aware of and a record France are chasing throughout this tour. Rennie's side, fresh off three home wins against France last year, start as clear favorites.
Key players to watch
For New Zealand
Ardie Savea (No. 8, captain) – Savea is one of the most complete forwards in world rugby: explosive at the breakdown, powerful in the carry, and now carrying the added responsibility of the captaincy. Limiting his impact around the fringes will be France's first defensive priority.
Anton Segner (loosehead prop) – The most watched of the four uncapped debutants, Segner was the standout prop in Super Rugby this season and takes on his first test cap against one of the world's most physical front rows. The scrummage battle will define territory and set the tone.
Will Jordan (fullback) – If fit, Jordan is a match-winner in broken play. His aerial work, acceleration from deep, and footwork in tight space make him a constant threat. France's kicking game will test his calf from the first whistle.
For France
Théo Attissogbe (wing) – With Bielle-Biarrey absent, Attissogbe carries France's attacking ambitions on the flanks. He scored four tries in the 2026 Six Nations – including decisive contributions in tight games – and combines genuine pace with an aggressive line-breaking instinct. If France are going to create something from wide, it runs through him.
Charles Ollivon (flanker) – One of the most experienced forwards available to Galthié for this tour, Ollivon is the physical anchor of a reshuffled pack. Against an All Blacks side with Savea at eight, his work at the breakdown and in the carry will be central to whether France can retain the ball deep in New Zealand territory.
Why use a VPN to watch the Nations Championship abroad?
TF1 holds the rights to every Nations Championship match in France and streams them free on TF1+ – but only to viewers with a French IP address. Open TF1+ from outside France and you will hit a geo-block. The same restriction applies to ITVX in the UK and Virgin Media Player in Ireland: all three platforms are licensed for their home territory only.
A VPN routes your connection through a server in the target country, giving you a local IP address so the stream loads as it would at home. This is the standard method for French, British, and Irish fans traveling or living abroad who want to follow their team's Nations Championship campaign live. For a full comparison of VPN options, see our best VPN for streaming guide.
Best VPNs for watching the Nations Championship from abroad
| VPN | Best for | Speed | Price |
| NordVPN | Overall speed | 86% NordLynx | From $3.49/month |
| Surfshark | Multiple devices | 80% WireGuard | From $2.49/month |
| Proton VPN | Privacy | 81% WireGuard | From $2.99/month |
All three unlock TF1+, ITVX, and Virgin Media Player reliably in Cybernews testing. NordVPN's 86% speed retention on NordLynx is the safest pick for an early-morning live match where buffering is most disruptive. Surfshark's unlimited simultaneous connections make it the household choice for multiple viewers on different devices. Proton VPN is independently audited and Swiss-based – the strongest privacy option of the three.
Frequently asked questions
What time is New Zealand vs France on July 4th?
Kickoff is at 09:10 CEST / 08:10 BST / 10:10 EEST / 03:10 AM EDT on Saturday, July 4th, 2026. The match takes place at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. In New Zealand, that is 19:10 NZST on Saturday evening.
Is New Zealand vs France on free TV in France?
Yes. TF1+ streams every Nations Championship match live and free in France. Many matches also broadcast on the TF1 or TMC linear channels. A free TF1+ account is required. If you are outside France, connect to a French VPN server to access TF1+ from abroad.
Is New Zealand vs France on free TV in the UK?
Yes. ITV and STV have exclusive free-to-air rights to every Nations Championship match in the UK. Stream live for free on ITVX with a free account. Outside the UK, connect to a UK VPN server to unblock ITVX.
Are Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack playing against the All Blacks?
No. Dupont, Ntamack, Thomas Ramos, Grégory Alldritt, and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are all unavailable for the Christchurch match. The Top 14 final was played days before the squad departed, ruling out all players from the finalist clubs. France's opener is built around players who stepped up in the Six Nations, with Théo Attissogbe and Charles Ollivon among the key figures.
What is New Zealand's recent form against France?
The two sides have split their last five meetings. France won 30-29 in Paris in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series. The All Blacks responded by winning all three tests in the 2025 home series – 31-27 in Dunedin, 43-17 in Wellington, and 29-19 in Hamilton. France have never won a test match on New Zealand soil.
Which VPN server should I use for TF1+?
Connect to a server in France – Paris is typically the fastest option in most VPN apps. For ITVX, use a UK server (London or Manchester). For Virgin Media Player, use an Irish server (Dublin). If the stream buffers at kickoff, switch to a different server in the same country inside the app.
