Rugby World Cup live stream: how to watch RWC 2023 free from anywhere

Players jump for the ball - watch Rugby World Cup live streams free
(Image credit: Getty Images / CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU)

Watch a free Rugby World Cup live stream

Rugby World Cup 2023 is free to watch on ITV and ITVX in the UK. Fans can also watch every game for free via RTÉ and Virgin Media in Ireland. Channel 9 is showing select games for free in Australia, while select games are free-to-air on SABC in South Africa. Use a VPN to watch your preferred Rugby World Cup feed from anywhere, if you're away from home.

Rugby World Cup: 2023 preview

With two nations that have never laid hands on the Webb Ellis Cup the standout favourites, the 2023 Rugby World Cup is shaping up to be an historic occasion.

Wales can count themselves incredibly lucky that the draw took place in December 2020, based on the world rankings from January of that year – if it had been made now, Warren Gatland’s men would have been thrown to the lions. Instead, they’ve landed in what looks like the friendliest pool of them all and look on for topping it too.

Six Nations champions and world no.1 Ireland look to be finishing first in Pool B, besting current World Cup holders South Africa. Scotland are the only other team in the group to have registered any points.

In Pool A it's the France and New Zealand show although Italy are still in with a chance if they can take down the hosts or if the All Blacks falter. As for Pool D, it's all been rather easy for what looked a very out of sorts England in the warm-ups, but keep your eyes on the three-way tussle for second place with Japan vs Argentina looking an excellent showdown.

All games are free to watch in the UK and Ireland. Here's how to watch a Rugby World Cup live stream from anywhere.

Rugby World Cup free live streams

Viewers in the UK can stream every game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup for free via ITVX. That's also the case in Ireland, with RTÉ and Virgin Media Player sharing live broadcast duties

Outside of the UK or Ireland? Use a VPN to access any local stream from abroad. We recommend ExpressVPN as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Not used a VPN before? It's easy. Here's our step-by-step guide...

Watch a Rugby World Cup 2023 live stream from anywhere

You won't be able to watch your regular Rugby World Cup 2023 live stream while traveling abroad. The streaming service will spot that you're in a foreign country and block you. You can use a VPN (virtual private network) to get around this, though.

It's a straightforward piece of software that sets your device to appear as if it's in the right country, allowing you to watch any Rugby World Cup live stream from anywhere in the world.

We rate ExpressVPN as the best VPN for rugby fans. It offers a 30-day guarantee for all your money back if you're not happy with the service.

Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days

Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days
ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money back guarantee with its VPN service. You can use it to watch Six Nations 2023 live streams on your mobile, tablet, laptop, TV, games console and more. There's 24/7 customer support and three months free when you sign-up. Try it – it's easier than you think.

For the best value, try the 12-month subscription.

How to use a VPN for Rugby World Cup 2023

Using a VPN to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 is incredibly easy:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. ExpressVPN is the one we recommend – we've used it for years and it's always reliable.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access. For the Rugby World Cup, you may wish to choose 'UK' for ITVX.

3. Then head over to ITVX on your browser or device and enjoy the free Rugby World Cup live stream.

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in the UK

ITV holds the rights to the tournament in the UK, which means you can also live stream every Rugby World Cup 2023 match for free on the ITVX website or mobile app (live and on catch up).

S4C, meanwhile, is offering Welsh-language coverage of the opening game, every Wales game, and the final. Travelling outside the UK?

Use a VPN to unblock ITVX and watch free from anywhere.

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 for FREE in Ireland

You can watch every match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup live stream free in Ireland too, with free-to-air networks RTÉ and Virgin Media sharing live broadcast duties.

Stream every game live via either RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Player, with both services available across a wide range of devices. 

Don't forget: You can live stream every match free of charge while abroad with a good rugby VPN.

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 for FREE in Australia

There's also free Rugby World Cup 2023 coverage in Australia, with Channel 9 and 9Now showing every Wallabies match, plus the final. Travelling outside Australia?

Use VPN to unblock 9Now and watch the Rugby World Cup from anywhere

Streaming service Stan Sport, meanwhile, has the rights to show every match of the tournament ad-free. 

To begin with, there's a Stan 30-day free trial. After that, you choose your base package, starting from AU$10, and the necessary sport add-on costs AU$15 a month on top (so, from $25 a month in total).

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in the USA

Every match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup is available to watch in the US via Peacock TV.

Peacock starts at $5.99 a month for its ad-supported tier, which will also give you access to a wide range of live sports including EPL soccer, WWE, Premiership Rugby and more.

The Peacock TV app is available on iOS, Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Chromecast, LG smart TV, Vizio TV, PS4, and Xbox One. You can also watch through your web browser.

Of course, Peacock TV is only available within the States so be sure to use a rugby-friendly VPN if you're a subscriber stuck abroad.

A selection of games will also be aired on CNBC on cable with two quarter finals, the final and Ireland vs Scotland also on NBC. Full list of cable games here.

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in New Zealand

Kiwis can watch Rugby World Cup 2023 action courtesy of Sky Sport, which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages.

If you're a subscriber you'll also be able to watch online using the country's Sky Go service.

If you're looking to cut the cords, you can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform - where a pass costs $24.99 per week or $44.99 per month. Or you could try the Rugby World Cup Pass on Sky Sports for $89.99 which includes full access to Sky Sport & ESPN from 4 September – 3 November.

Don't forget: UK nationals can live stream every match for free while abroad with a VPN.

Rugby World Cup 2023 live stream in South Africa

Super Sport is the place to watch every 2023 Rugby World Cup match in South Africa but a late, late deal means that South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will now be airing all Springboks games for free as well as a selection of other matches. Keep your eyes on SABC Plus for details.

For those signed up to Super Sport, if you can't watch on your TV, you can also tune in via the network's streaming service for PC and Mac, as well as via SuperSport's dedicated app.

Watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada

You can watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup unfold on TSN in Canada.

If you don't have the channel on cable, you can either sign up to the new TSN Plus streaming service for $8 per month (+ tax) or $80 per year (+ tax), or subscribe to TSN for streaming-only for $19.99 a month or $199.90 per year. 

Don't forget: UK nationals can live stream every match free of charge while abroad with a VPN.

Rugby World Cup 2023 pool tables

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Pool A
Row 0 - Cell 0 PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints DifferenceBonus PointsPoints
France3300125113
New Zealand3201133210
Italy3201–14210
Uruguay3102–2615
Namibia4004–21800
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Pool B
Row 0 - Cell 0 PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints DifferenceBonus PointsPoints
South Africa4301117315
Ireland3300122214
Scotland320197210
Tonga3003–10200
Romania3003–23400
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Pool C
Row 0 - Cell 0 PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints DifferenceBonus PointsPoints
Wales330060214
Australia4202–1311
Fiji32016210
Georgia3012–2513
Portugal3012–4002
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Pool D
Row 0 - Cell 0 PlayedWonDrawnLostPoints DifferenceBonus PointsPoints
England3300110214
Argentina32014619
Japan32011419
Samoa31021826
Chile4004–18800

Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets

Rugby World Cup 2023 tickets have been flying off the shelves, but not all games are sold out at the time of writing, and some tickets are available via resale.

You can purchase them from the official 2023 Rugby World Cup website.

Which team has won the most Rugby World Cups?

Who else? New Zealand and South Africa are the joint-most successful teams in Rugby World Cup history, having lifted the Webb Ellis Cup three times apiece. They've also won all of the last four tournaments between them.

Two-time champions Australia and England are the only other teams to have tasted Rugby World Cup glory, while France have reached three finals and lost them all.

Aatif Sulleyman

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. An avid armchair sports fan, he devours everything from football and Formula 1 to tennis, rugby and cricket. If you need to know where to watch the big game this weekend, Aatif can tell you what TV channel it's on and the exact start time (in eight different time zones). Elsewhere, Aatif has written about technology, science and politics for publications such as the The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but he focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.