How to Watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland [2023]

After Glasgow defeated Scarlets by 35-17 on 29 April in Wales and Toulon served a crushing defeat to Benetton Rugby 23-0 on 30 April, both the teams are now ready to face each other in the anticipated finale of the European Challenge Cup, aka EPCR Challenge Cup. 

The European Challenge Cup finale, scheduled for 3 P.M EST on Friday, 19 May 2023, will be the warm-up game for the Heineken Champions Cup on May 20. 

In the previous Challenge Cup, RC Toulon lost the finale to Lyon 30-10. Both Toulon and Glasgow are playing to win their first Challenge Cup victory. The 2023 finale will be played in Aviva Stadium, Dublin, and live-streamed through several sports streaming services. 

You can watch the European Challenge Cup in Ireland on free and premium streaming services, such as France.tv, BT Sport, beIN Sports, and Super Sport.

However, most of these services are geo-restricted in Ireland. That is why you must use a VPN to bypass their geo-restrictions. ExpressVPN is our #1 choice.

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When & Where is the European Challenge Cup Finale Happening?

The long-awaited finale of the European Challenge Cup is finally happening, and here’s all you need to know about the anticipated finale:

Location: Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland 

Date and Time: Friday, 19th May 2023 at 3 PM EST and 8 PM IST

Teams: Glasgow Warriors vs. RC Toulon 

Where to Watch: France.tv, BT Sport, beIN Sports, Super Sport 

How to Watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland for Free

The finale of the European Challenge Cup is available to watch for free on France TV. You can visit the France.tv website and stream the game between Glasgow and Toulon when the game is live. 

However, since France.tv is only available in France, you need to use a VPN to unblock the service and access it in Ireland. 

Follow the steps below to watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland:

Step 1: Subscribe to a reliable VPN service (We recommend ExpressVPN)

Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN app and install it on your device

Step 3: Open the app and connect to a French server (i.e., Paris)

Step 4: Visit France.tv website and click on Inscription to register your account

Step 5: Enter your details to create your account

Step 6: Once your account has been created, you’ll be redirected to the home page. Click on the search icon

Step 7: Search for European Challenge Cup and select the program

Step 8: Choose the event when it’s live and enjoy

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4 Ways to Watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland

You can stream the European Challenge Cup finale in Ireland using several free and premium streaming services. These services are official European Challenge Cup streaming partners, so your streaming experience will be smooth. 

The following are the four ways to watch the final of the European Challenge Cup in Ireland:

1. France.tv (Free)

France.tv is a French video-on-demand and live TV streaming service where you can enjoy sports, news, entertainment, etc. You can also stream the quarter-finals and semifinals of the Challenge Cup before the upcoming finale. 

The finale will be available to stream live when the game starts. You can watch French TV channels, such as France 1-5, Culture Box, France Info, France Slash, and France Enfants, on France TV. However, due to geo-restrictions, you can only watch France.tv in Ireland using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN.

Read More: Watch France.tv in Ireland

2. BT Sport (Premium)

BT Sport is a group of pay television channels available in the United Kingdom and Ireland where you can watch all the events of Rugby Union, including the EPCR Challenge Cup. 

BT Sports’ streaming service, BT Sport Player, is only available in the United Kingdom. However, you can watch BT Sport in Ireland with a Now TV subscription. The finale of the European Challenge Cup will be streamed live on BT Sport on 19 May. 

You can get a BT Sport Player subscription for as low as £18/month in the United Kingdom. However, the best way to enjoy BT Sport in Ireland is through the Now TV subscription, which you can get for €16.99/month. 

Read More: Watch BT Sports in Ireland

3. beIN Sports (Premium)

Another premium sports streaming service to enjoy the EPCR finale is beIN Sports. The service is an official streaming partner of the European Challenge Cup. 

The sports streaming service is available in several countries, including the United States, France, the Philippines, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, etc. However, the finale is available to watch on beIN Sports USA. 

You can get beIN Sports USA through TV providers like FuboTV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. To watch the European Challenge Cup finale in Ireland on beIN Sports USA, connect to the US server of ExpressVPN. 

Read More: Watch BeIN Sports in Ireland

2. SuperSport (Premium)

SuperSport is a South African channel group with a streaming contract with EPCR to live stream games of the European Challenge Cup, including the finale. 

SuperSport is available to stream live through DStv and ShowMax. You can watch various sports on dedicated channels offered by Super Sport. 

Since the service is only available in South Africa, you must use a premium VPN like our recommended ExpressVPN to access it in Ireland. 

How to Watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland on Smartphones/Smart TV

You can watch the European Challenge Cup final live on your Android phones and TV via the France.tv app using a VPN. However, the app is only available on Google Play Store in France. Therefore, you must download France.tv APK to watch the live game in Ireland. 

Follow the steps below to watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland on France.tv on your smartphones and smart TVs:

Step 1: Install ExpressVPN from the PlayStore

Step 2: Open the VPN app and connect to the French server (i.e., Paris)

Step 3: Download France.tv APK and install it on your device

Step 4: Open France.tv app

Step 5: Create a free account

Step 6: Click on Explore and scroll down below to select sports

Step 7: Select the European Challenge Cup

Step 8: Enjoy the game when it’s live or stream previous matches 

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Other Sports to Watch in Ireland

If you’re a sports junkie, you can watch the following sports in Ireland:

• Watch Rugby League World Cup in Ireland
• Watch National Rugby League in Ireland
• Watch AFL in Ireland
• Watch UFC 288 in Ireland 

FAQs – European Challenge Cup

Which teams participated in the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2023?

The teams from the following countries participated in the 2023 European Challenge Cup:

• England
• France 
• Ireland
• Italy
• Scotland
• Wales
• South Africa

Is the European Challenge Cup Rugby Union or Rugby League?

The EPCR European Challenge Cup is an annual Rugby Union competition for professional clubs. 

What is the difference between European Challenge Cup and European Champions Cup (Heineken Champions Cup)

The Champions Cup is the highest professional rugby union European domestic competition level. Challenge Cup is the second-tier competition for rugby clubs of European leagues.

Which team has won the most Challenge Cups?

Wigan Warriors have won the most European Challenge Cup titles, i.e. 20. They were also the winner of the European Challenge Cup 2022.

Conclusion

The much-awaited finale of the European Challenge Cup is finally here. The final 2023 Challenge Cup clash is set to happen between Glasgow and Toulon on 19 May 2023 in Aviva Stadium, Dublin. 

The event will be streamed live through the official broadcasting partners of EPCR in the selected regions. You can watch European Challenge Cup in Ireland on free services, such as France.tv or on premium services, like beIN Sports, BT Sport, and Super Sport. 

However, you must use a premium VPN such as ExpressVPN to watch the finale because the above services are geo-restricted in Ireland.