New Zealand vs South Africa – streaming guide, how to watch for free. Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
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New Zealand will face South Africa at Sandy Park, Exeter on Saturday, 13 September 2025, in the first quarter-final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
The Black Ferns come into the knockouts unbeaten, having topped Pool C with a dominant 40-0 win over Ireland, showcasing their attacking depth and defensive resilience. South Africa, meanwhile, advanced as runners-up in Pool D, despite a heavy defeat to France, and will be looking to upset the defending champions with physical play and set-piece strength. Historically, the two sides have rarely met on this stage, making the clash a true test of South Africa’s progress against the tournament’s most successful nation.
The match kicks off at 13:00 BST (UK) / 08:00 ET / 05:00 PT (USA) / 22:00 AEST (Australia) / 23:00 NZST (New Zealand) / 14:00 SAST (South Africa).
In this guide, I'll show you how to watch New Zealand vs South Africa live, whether you’re looking for free access through regional broadcasters or tuning in via official streaming services in your country. You’ll also learn how to use a VPN to securely access your home coverage while traveling abroad.
How to watch New Zealand vs South Africa for free with a VPN
Some broadcasters make Women’s Rugby World Cup matches free to watch because of their public service obligations. In the UK, for example, the BBC provides coverage on BBC iPlayer without extra cost, funded by the TV Licence fee rather than subscriptions or pay-per-view. Similarly, Ireland’s RTÉ Player includes major rugby fixtures in its free programming lineup to ensure wide public access.
These streams, however, are restricted to viewers inside their respective countries. Broadcasters check your IP address to determine your location, so if you’re outside the UK or Ireland, you’ll be blocked from watching unless you use a VPN.
Here’s how to set it up for this quarter-final:
- Pick a VPN that has reliable servers in the UK and Ireland – I recommend NordVPN
- Install the VPN app on your preferred device – laptop, phone, tablet, or smart TV
- Connect to a server in the UK for BBC iPlayer, or in Ireland for RTÉ Player
- Go to the broadcaster’s website and log in or register a free account if needed
- Navigate to the Women’s Rugby World Cup section and select the New Zealand vs South Africa quarter-final stream
- Press play and enjoy the match live, wherever you’re watching from
Official ways to watch New Zealand vs South Africa
If you prefer to watch through official channels in your region, here are the authorized broadcasters for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025:
| Country | Streaming service | Monthly price | Coverage notes |
| UK | BBC iPlayer | Free (with TV Licence) | Every match live and on-demand; also broadcast on BBC One/Two |
| USA | Paramount+ | $5.99 (Essential) / $11.99 (Premium) | Streams every match live; some games also on CBS Sports Network |
| Australia | Stan Sport | AUD $15 (add-on to Stan Basic $12/month) | All matches live/ad-free; Wallaroos games + final also free on 9Now |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport Now | NZD $39.99/month | Exclusive broadcaster in NZ; full tournament coverage |
| France | TF1 / MYTF1 | Free | Selected matches free-to-air, including key knockouts |
| Ireland | RTÉ Player (free) / TG4 (free, select games) | Free | RTÉ streams knockout games; TG4 airs six matches including one semi-final |
If you’re outside your home country during the match, regional restrictions may block your streaming service. A reliable VPN allows you to securely connect back home and continue watching without interruptions, as long as you hold a valid subscription or TV licence where required.
Best VPNs to watch New Zealand vs South Africa
These VPNs have been tested specifically for streaming Women’s Rugby World Cup matches and work with broadcasters like BBC iPlayer (UK), RTÉ Player (Ireland), and TF1 (France):
- NordVPN – best overall choice, with consistently fast connections and servers in all countries showing free Rugby World Cup streams. Excellent for reliable HD coverage on BBC iPlayer and RTÉ Player.
- Surfshark – budget-friendly option that allows unlimited device connections, making it great for families or households who want to stream the match across multiple screens.
- ProtonVPN – strong focus on privacy while still offering smooth streaming. Its servers in the UK and France have proven stable for free rugby broadcasts.
All three providers deliver the high speeds required for HD streaming without buffering and are effective at bypassing geo-restrictions so you can keep up with the Women’s Rugby World Cup wherever you are.
New Zealand vs South Africa: match preview
New Zealand Form and Squad
The Black Ferns arrive in the quarter-finals unbeaten, having topped Pool C with a dominant 40–0 win over Ireland. Their attack has been sharp, led by Braxton Sorensen-McGee, who scored a hat-trick in that decisive group match. New Zealand’s forward pack remains one of the most powerful in the tournament, while their backline pace and finishing ability have consistently turned pressure into points. With a blend of experienced campaigners and dynamic young talent, they look every bit like defending champions.
South Africa Form and Squad
South Africa advanced to the knockouts as runners-up in Pool D, despite a heavy 57–10 defeat to France in their final group game. The Springbok Women’s physical approach at the breakdown and set piece remains their strongest asset, though discipline and defensive organization have occasionally let them down. Captain Nolusindiso Booi leads a squad that has shown resilience and steady improvement in recent years, and they will look to disrupt New Zealand’s rhythm through their forward power.
Head-to-head record
New Zealand and South Africa have rarely crossed paths in women’s test rugby, and this will be their first meeting at a World Cup knockout stage. Historically, the Black Ferns have dominated tier-one opposition outside the northern hemisphere, while South Africa’s women’s program has been building toward competitiveness against the sport’s elite. This lack of direct history adds intrigue, with South Africa keen to prove they can close the gap.
What to expect
The quarter-final is expected to be a clash of styles: New Zealand’s expansive, high-tempo game against South Africa’s physical set-piece strength. If the Black Ferns can generate quick ball and release their pace out wide, they are likely to pull away. South Africa will need to slow the tempo, dominate the scrum, and pressure New Zealand into errors to have any chance. On paper, New Zealand are heavy favourites, but South Africa’s physicality could make for a bruising encounter that tests the Black Ferns before the semi-finals.
