Wales vs Ireland live stream: how to watch the Six Nations game online from anywhere today

last updated 4 February 2023

Irish history with Gatland set to spice up Six Nations opener

Jonathan Sexton of Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales

(Image: © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Watch a Wales vs Ireland live stream

You can watch Wales vs Ireland for free on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Player in Ireland. Fans can pay to watch today's rugby on Peacock in the US, and on Stan Sport in Australia. Full information on the TV viewing options below. We'll also explain how to watch a FREE Wales vs Ireland live stream from anywhere in the world.

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Kick-off: Saturday, February 4, 2.15pm GMT / 9.15am ET / 6.15am PT

TV channel: BBC One (UK) | Virgin Media One (IRE) | CNBC / Peacock (US) | Stan Sport (AUS)

Free live stream: BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Player (IRE)

Use ExpressVPN to watch any stream

Wales vs Ireland match preview

They're the No.1-ranked team in the world and have made it to the top while playing an attractive brand of rugby, but the one thing still missing from Andy Farrell's time as Ireland head coach is a major piece of silverware. His team has never been better-placed for Six Nations glory, but they begin their 2023 campaign today against a Wales team refreshed by the return of Warren Gatland, and at a ground that's become a byword for misery in recent years.

Wales have won four consecutive Six Nations fixtures over Ireland at the Principality Stadium, and most of them haven't been close. Gatland, back at the helm after that glorious reign that produced four Six Nations titles and three Grand Slams, has seized the pantomime villain role with both hands, taking every opportunity to emphasize Wales' status as underdogs.

Gatland infamously cut former Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll and current Irish skipper Johnny Sexton from various British and Irish Lions setups, and while Sexton seems to be pretty sanguine about the whole affair, it's fair to say that everyone in Irish colors would love to get one over the Wales coach.

Ireland, who count the World Rugby men's player of the year Josh van der Flier in their ranks, scored more tries than anybody else at last year's Six Nations, and they're expecting big things after their historic series win in New Zealand and subsequent wins over Australia and South Africa. Wales, meanwhile, are missing their game-changing wing Louis Rees-Zammit, and are being captained by veteran hooker Ken Owens for the very first time.

The conditions are pretty much perfect at Principality Stadium today, and you can follow our guide as we explain all the ways to get a Wales vs Ireland live stream wherever you are – starting with how to watch the Six Nations for FREE in the UK and Ireland.

How to watch Wales vs Ireland: live stream Six Nations for FREE in the UK

Ireland vs Wales is being shown for free in the UK on BBC One, with kick-off set for 2.15pm GMT on Saturday afternoon.

You can also watch a Wales vs Ireland live stream for free on BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab), which is free to use and works across a wide range of devices including smart TVs, laptops, games consoles, mobile phones, tablets and streaming sticks.

Welsh-language coverage of the game is available from S4C (opens in new tab), which is available to stream for free in Wales via BBC iPlayer.

Away from home right now? No worries:

Use ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer from abroad (opens in new tab).

How to watch Wales vs Ireland from outside your country

If you're abroad right now and struggling to tap into your usual coverage of the Six Nations, you'll want a VPN. This'll help you circumvent the geo-blocking that will try to stop you watching a Wales vs Ireland live stream in particular parts of the world.

They're a useful means of getting around this issue, are cheap, and easy to set-up as well. Here's how it's done.

Use a VPN to watch Wales vs Ireland from anywhere

ExpressVPN is the world's top VPN (opens in new tab)
We've put all of the major VPN services to the test and we rate ExpressVPN as the absolute best of the bunch. It's compatible with loads of devices including iOS, Android, Amazon Fire Stick, PlayStation, Apple TV and such, and we found it secure, speedy and simple-to-use.

Another great perk is the fact that it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and 3-months FREE (opens in new tab), so you can see if it's right for you with no strings attached.

- Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free for 30 days (opens in new tab)

Once you've downloaded the software, just follow the prompts to install it then select the location you want to relocate your IP address to - it really is that easy.

How to use a VPN for Wales vs Ireland

Using a VPN to is as easy as one-two-three...

1. Download and install a VPN - as we say, our top choice is ExpressVPN

2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location, eg: 'UK' for iPlayer.

3. Go to the broadcaster's stream - head to your home broadcaster's site or app and watch as if you were at home - BBC iPlayer (opens in new tab) for UK citizens abroad.

How to watch Wales vs Ireland: live stream Six Nations FREE in Ireland

Watch Wales vs Ireland: live stream Six Nations rugby in the US without cable

The Wales vs Ireland Six Nations rugby game is being shown on both CNBC and Peacock TV in the US, with kick-off set for 9.15am ET / 6.15am PT first thing on Saturday morning.

Peacock costs just $4.99 a month (opens in new tab) for an ad-supported version of the service that also offers live coverage of Premier League soccer, every big WWE event, Premiership Rugby, plus plenty more live sports. You also have the option of paying $10 a month for commercial-free coverage.

OTT streaming service FuboTV (opens in new tab) carries CNBC and more than 100 additional channels including Fox, CBS and ESPN. Prices start at $74.99 a month after a FREE FuboTV trial (opens in new tab).

If you subscribe to Peacock, FuboTV or any other US streaming service and find yourself unable to access coverage because you're out of the country, consider using a VPN as outlined below - of the many options, we rate ExpressVPN as the best of the best (opens in new tab).

How to watch a Wales vs Ireland Six Nations live stream in Australia

In Australia you can watch Wales vs Ireland on Stan Sport, but be warned that kick-off is set for 1.15am AEDT on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

If you don't mind the late night, a subscription costs $10 per month (on top of a $10 Stan sub), but you can take advantage of a 7-day FREE trial.

Stan Sport is also the place to watch Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League football, and Formula E.

If you're currently out of Australia but want to watch a Wales vs Ireland live stream, you'll need to get yourself a VPN (opens in new tab) as per the instructions above.

How to watch Wales vs Ireland: live stream Six Nations in New Zealand

Sky Sport (opens in new tab) is showing the Wales vs Ireland game in New Zealand. Unfortunately, kick-off is set for the brutal time of 3.15am NZDT in the small hours of Sunday morning.

If that doesn't put you off, know that subscribers can watch online using the country's Sky Go service, while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now (opens in new tab) streaming-only platform - where a pass costs $19.99 per week or $39.99 per month.

The monthly package comes with a 7-day free trial (opens in new tab).

How to watch Wales vs Ireland: live stream Six Nations rugby in Canada

Wales vs Ireland kicks off at 9.15am ET / 6.15am PT on Saturday morning, and is being shown on streaming service DAZN in Canada.

And it's a real bargain too - DAZN costs CA$24.99 a month or $199.99 a year. Away from home this weekend? No problem.

Use a VPN to watch Wales vs Ireland on DAZN while abroad. (opens in new tab)

Not only do you get every Six Nations 2023 match, but DAZN is also the exclusive Canadian streaming home of Champions League, Europa League and EFL Championship soccer!

It also comes with support for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, PS4, and laptop/PC streaming (including Mac devices).

Aatif is a freelance copywriter and journalist based in the UK. He’s written about technology, science and politics for publications including Gizmodo, The Independent, Trusted Reviews and Newsweek, but focuses on streaming at Future, an arrangement that combines two of his greatest passions: sport and penny-pinching.

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