sports

How to Watch National Rugby League in Ireland For Free [2026]

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.

The season ultimately peaks with the 2026 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 4, at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Currently, Round 14 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.

Your ISP, the Irish Government, and streaming platforms are Monitoring your Online Activity.

This means International Content staying Geo-blocked, Buffering, and even your entire Private Data can be Exposed to Third parties & Hackers.

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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!

Try Surfshark VPN


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 14 to 16 in Irish Standard Time:

DateMatchTime (Irish Time)
Round 14
Thu, Jun 4Manly Warringah Sea Eagles vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs10:50 AM
Fri, Jun 5Melbourne Storm vs. Newcastle Knights9:00 AM
Fri, Jun 5Canberra Raiders vs. Sydney Roosters11:00 AM
Sat, Jun 6North Queensland Cowboys vs. Dolphins8:30 AM
Sat, Jun 6Brisbane Broncos vs. Gold Coast Titans10:30 AM
Sun, Jun 7Wests Tigers vs. Penrith Panthers5:00 AM
Sun, Jun 7Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons7:05 AM
Mon, Jun 8Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Parramatta Eels7:05 AM
Round 15
Thu, Jun 11South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Brisbane Broncos10:50 AM
Fri, Jun 12Dolphins vs. Sydney Roosters11:00 AM
Sat, Jun 13New Zealand Warriors vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks10:35 AM
Sat, Jun 13Parramatta Eels vs. Canberra Raiders10:35 AM
Sun, Jun 14Wests Tigers vs. Gold Coast Titans7:05 AM
Round 15
Fri, Jun 19Newcastle Knights vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons11:00 AM
Sat, Jun 20Wests Tigers vs. Dolphins6:00 AM
Sat, Jun 20Gold Coast Titans vs. Penrith Panthers8:30 AM
Sat, Jun 20Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles10:35 AM
Sun, Jun 21New Zealand Warriors vs. North Queensland Cowboys5:00 AM
Sun, Jun 21Melbourne Storm vs. Canberra Raiders7:05 AM
Sun, Jun 21Sydney Roosters vs. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks9:15 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:


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.

Paul Adair

Passionate writer and avid streamer, I try and test streaming services and cord cutting options. By combining my love for writing with the thrill of discovering new media platforms, I like to guide and enlighten Irish audiences on the best ways to enjoy content without the cords.

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