Disclosure: We research and test the best streaming options for viewers in Ireland. If you subscribe or purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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-favorite Magic Round (May 15–17).
The season ultimately peaks with the 2026 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 4, at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
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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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!
Here are the best services to watch the National Rugby League in Ireland.
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
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.
Here’s a schedule for NRL 2026 Week 1 to 5 in Irish Standard Time:
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 of 27 | ||
| Sunday 1st March | Newcastle Knights vs North Queensland Cowboys | 4:30 AM |
| Sunday 1st March | Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George-Illawarra Dragons | 2:15 AM |
| Thursday 5th March | Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels | 09:00 AM |
| Friday 6th March | New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters | 07:00 AM |
| Friday 6th March | Brisbane Broncos vs Penrith Panthers | 09:00 AM |
| Saturday 7th March | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans | 06:30 AM |
| Saturday 7th March | Manly Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders | 08:35 AM |
| Sunday 8th March | Dolphins vs South Sydney Rabbitohs | 05:05 AM |
| Week 2 of 27 | ||
| Thursday 12th March | Brisbane Broncos vs Parramatta Eels | 09:00 AM |
| Friday 13th March | New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders | 07:00 AM |
| Friday 13th March | Sydney Roosters vs South Sydney Rabbitohs | 09:00 AM |
| Saturday 14th March | Wests Tigers vs North Queensland | 04:00 AM |
| Saturday 14th March | St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Melbourne Storm | 06:30 AM |
| Saturday 14th March | Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 08:35 AM |
| Sunday 15th March | Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle | 05:05 AM |
| Sunday 15th March | Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans | 07:15 AM |
| Week 3 of 27 | ||
| Thursday 19th March | Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury Bulldogs | 09:00 AM |
| Friday 20th March | Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers | 07:00 AM |
| Friday 20th March | Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos | 09:00 AM |
| Saturday 21st March | Newcastle vs New Zealand Warriors | 04:00 AM |
| Saturday 21st March | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Dolphins | 06:30 AM |
| Saturday 21st March | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers | 08:35 AM |
| Sunday 22nd March | Parramatta Eels vs St George-Illawarra Dragons | 05:05 AM |
| Sunday 22nd March | North Queensland vs Gold Coast Titans | 07:15 AM |
| Week 4 of 27 | ||
| Thursday 26th March | Manly Sea Eagles vs Sydney Roosters | 09:00 AM |
| Friday 27th March | New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers | 07:00 AM |
| Friday 27th March | Brisbane Broncos vs Dolphins | 09:00 AM |
| Saturday 28th March | Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle | 04:00 AM |
| Saturday 28th March | Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels | 06:30 AM |
| Saturday 28th March | North Queensland vs Melbourne Storm | 07:30 AM |
| Sunday 29th March | Canberra Raiders vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 06:05 AM |
| Sunday 29th March | Gold Coast Titans vs St George-Illawarra Dragons | 08:15 AM |
| Week 5 of 27 | ||
| Thursday 2nd April | Dolphins vs Manly Sea Eagles | 10:00 AM |
| Friday 3rd April | South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs | 06:05 AM |
| Friday 3rd April | Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm | 10:00 AM |
| Saturday 4th April | St George-Illawarra Dragons vs North Queensland | 07:30 AM |
| Saturday 4th April | Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos | 09:35 AM |
| Sunday 5th April | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors | 05:00 AM |
| Sunday 5th April | Newcastle vs Canberra Raiders | 07:05 AM |
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!
If you are a sports enthusiast, you can also watch the following sports in Ireland:
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.
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.
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