The 2026 NRL season officially kicked off with a historic double-header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on March 1.
Early results have already set the tone, with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights securing statement wins on American soil.
In addition to the overseas action, the Australian leg begins on March 5, 2026, building momentum toward the fan-favourite Magic Round (May 15–17).
The season ultimately peaks with the 2026 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 4, at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Currently, Round 10 of 27 is happening.
You can watch NRL in Ireland for free via 9Now, get full access via Watch NRL, or tune in through premium coverage on Sky Sports.
However, if you plan to stream NRL in Ireland through 9Now, you’ll need a VPN to bypass geo-blocks and access the free coverage securely.
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When & Where Is National Rugby League Happening?
- Date: March 1 to October 4, 2026
- Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, US
- Broadcasters: Watch NRL(International), Sky Sports (UK & Ireland), 9Now (Australia)
How to Watch National Rugby League in Ireland For Free
9Now is an Australian free-to-air service that provides free & live streaming of select NRL matches and a complete coverage of the Finale series games in 2026.
To watch the NRL for free from Ireland on 9Now, it’s necessary to use a VPN to bypass the service’s geo-restrictions outside Australia.
Here’s how to watch the National Rugby League in Ireland for free via 9Now:
Step 1: Subscribe to a safe VPN service (Surfshark is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download and install the Surfshark VPN App on your device
Step 3: Connect to the Australia server.
Step 4: Visit 9Now and Click on Log in.
Step 5: Enter your email.
Step 6: Set up your account.
Step 7: Enter your information (e.g., email and postcode 2010).
Step 8: Click on Create Account
Step 9: Verify your account.
Step 10: Search for “NRL” and click on “NRL Premiership”
Step 11: Select the live match
Step 12: Enjoy streaming once the game goes live!
Other Ways to Watch National Rugby League in Ireland
Here are the best services to watch the National Rugby League in Ireland.
1. Sky Sports (Premium)
Sky Sports is a major sports broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. It holds the official broadcasting rights for the NRL 2026 season in the region. The network will also air full coverage of the finals series and the Grand Finale 2026.
You can subscribe to Sky Sports for €37/month, or you can also access all 12 Sky Sports channels in HD on NOW with a Sports Extra plan for €17/mo.
Read More: How to Watch Sky Go in Ireland
2. Watch NRL (Premium)
Watch NRL is the official international streaming service for rugby league fans outside Australia. Here you can watch NRL matches live and on demand in Ireland with no blackouts.
The platform offers flexible plans: AUD $24/week, AUD $44/month, or AUD $229/year for full access with the option to stream on 2 devices simultaneously without any VPN needed.
National Rugby League 2026 Schedule
Here’s a schedule for NRL 2026 Week 5 to 11 in Irish Standard Time:
| Date | Match | Time (Irish Time) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 5 | ||
| Thu, Apr 2 | Dolphins vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 10:00 AM |
| Fri, Apr 3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Canterbury Bulldogs | 6:05 AM |
| Fri, Apr 3 | Penrith Panthers vs. Melbourne Storm | 10:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 4 | St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. NQ Cowboys | 7:30 AM |
| Sat, Apr 4 | Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos | 9:35 AM |
| Sun, Apr 5 | Cronulla Sharks vs. NZ Warriors | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, Apr 5 | Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders | 7:05 AM |
| Mon, Apr 6 | Parramatta Eels vs. Wests Tigers | 7:05 AM |
| Round 6 | ||
| Thurs, Apr 9 | Canterbury Bulldogs vs. Penrith Panthers | 10:50 AM |
| Fri, Apr 10 | St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, Apr 10 | Brisbane Broncos vs. NQ Cowboys | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 11 | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Canberra Raiders | 6:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 11 | Cronulla Sharks vs. Sydney Roosters | 8:30 AM |
| Sat, Apr 11 | Melbourne Storm vs. NZ Warriors | 10:35 AM |
| Sun, Apr 12 | Parramatta Eels vs. Gold Coast Titans | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, Apr 12 | Wests Tigers vs. Newcastle Knights | 7:05 AM |
| Round 7 | ||
| Thu, Apr 16 | NQ Cowboys vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 10:50 AM |
| Fri, Apr 17 | Canberra Raiders vs. Melbourne Storm | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, Apr 17 | Dolphins vs. Penrith Panthers | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 18 | NZ Warriors vs. Gold Coast Titans | 6:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 18 | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. St. George Illawarra | 8:30 AM |
| Sat, Apr 18 | Wests Tigers vs. Brisbane Broncos | 10:35 AM |
| Sun, Apr 19 | Sydney Roosters vs. Newcastle Knights | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, Apr 19 | Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury Bulldogs | 7:05 AM |
| Round 8 | ||
| Thu, Apr 23 | Wests Tigers vs. Canberra Raiders | 10:50 AM |
| Fri, Apr 24 | NQ Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, Apr 24 | Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury Bulldogs | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 25 | St. George Illawarra vs. Sydney Roosters | 7:00 AM |
| Sat, Apr 25 | NZ Warriors vs. Dolphins | 9:05 AM |
| Sat, Apr 25 | Melbourne Storm vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs | 11:10 AM |
| Sun, Apr 26 | Newcastle Knights vs. Penrith Panthers | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, Apr 26 | Manly Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels | 7:05 AM |
| Round 9 | ||
| Fri, May 1 | Canterbury Bulldogs vs. NQ Cowboys | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, May 1 | Dolphins vs. Melbourne Storm | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, May 2 | Gold Coast Titans vs. Canberra Raiders | 6:00 AM |
| Sat, May 2 | Parramatta Eels vs. NZ Warriors | 8:30 AM |
| Sat, May 2 | Sydney Roosters vs. Brisbane Broncos | 10:35 AM |
| Sun, May 3 | Newcastle Knights vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, May 3 | Cronulla Sharks vs. Wests Tigers | 7:05 AM |
| Sun, May 3 | Penrith Panthers vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 9:15 AM |
| Round 10 | ||
| Thu, May 7 | Dolphins vs. Canterbury Bulldogs | 10:50 AM |
| Fri, May 8 | Sydney Roosters vs. Gold Coast Titans | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, May 8 | NQ Cowboys vs. Parramatta Eels | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, May 9 | St. George Illawarra vs. Newcastle Knights | 6:00 AM |
| Sat, May 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Cronulla Sharks | 8:30 AM |
| Sat, May 9 | Manly Sea Eagles vs. Brisbane Broncos | 10:35 AM |
| Sun, May 10 | Melbourne Storm vs. Wests Tigers | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, May 10 | Canberra Raiders vs. Penrith Panthers | 7:05 AM |
| Round 11 | ||
| Fri, May 15 | Cronulla Sharks vs. Canterbury Bulldogs | 9:00 AM |
| Fri, May 15 | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Dolphins | 11:00 AM |
| Sat, May 16 | Wests Tigers vs. Manly Sea Eagles | 6:00 AM |
| Sat, May 16 | Sydney Roosters vs. NQ Cowboys | 8:30 AM |
| Sat, May 16 | Parramatta Eels vs. Melbourne Storm | 10:45 AM |
| Sun, May 17 | Gold Coast Titans vs. Newcastle Knights | 5:00 AM |
| Sun, May 17 | NZ Warriors vs. Brisbane Broncos | 7:05 AM |
| Sun, May 17 | Penrith Panthers vs. St. George Illawarra | 9:25 AM |
How to Watch NRL in Ireland on a Mobile Phone
You can watch the NRL in Ireland on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event. The channel is available with the Now TV mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Additionally, you can also install free sports streaming apps like Rapid Streamz or SportzX or simply enjoy every NRL game on free sports sites, like viprow.nu/ OR vipleague.pm/ via your phone browser.
However, a VPN like Surfshark is necessary to hide your identity with these free sports streaming apps and websites.
Here’s how to watch the NRL in Ireland via Now TV app:
Step 1: Download the Now TV app from the Play Store or APK
Step 2: Open the app and click on the sidebar
Step 3: Choose Sports Membership
Step 4: Select your plan and click Claim offer
Step 5: Click Checkout
Step 6: Create your account by clicking Continue to checkout or sign in with your existing one
Step 7: Enter your credentials
Step 8: Choose your payment plan and enter your credentials to subscribe. Enjoy streaming!
Other Sports to Watch in Ireland
If you are a sports enthusiast, you can also watch the following sports in Ireland:
- Watch UFC in Ireland
- Watch NHL in Ireland
- Watch French Ligue 1 in Ireland
- Watch CFL in Ireland
- Watch Major Soccer League in Ireland
- Watch WNBA in Ireland
- Watch Liga MX in Ireland
FAQs – NRL 2026
1. Does Ireland have a national rugby team?
Yes. The men’s national rugby league team of Ireland, known as the Wolfhounds, is run by Rugby League Ireland and competes internationally.
2. Where can I watch the NRL 2026 live?
The NRL 2026 broadcasts live on 9Now (Free) in Australia, with international streaming via Sky Sports (UK/IRE), SportsNet (Canada), and Fox Sports (US).
3. Can I watch the NRL 2026 for free in Ireland?
You can watch select NRL matches for free in Ireland on 9Now with ads, or Foxtel with a 10-day free trial for new users with Surfshark.
4. What devices can I stream NRL Final on?
Watch NRL works on PCs, tablets, phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, and smart TVs (up to two simultaneous streams). NOW (Sky Sports) is available through mobile apps, consoles, and smart TVs via Sky Go.
Conclusion
Australia’s biggest rugby league stage is set for another season, 2026 NRL kicked off on March 1, with the Knights taking on the Cowboys.
Irish fans can watch the National Rugby League through both free and premium options, including 9Now (Free with VPN), Watch NRL, and Sky Sports.
I have also mentioned a couple of free methods in the blog. However, to access geo-restricted & free platforms from Ireland, using a VPN like Surfshark is necessary.
