How to watch Rugby Championship 2021: live stream every game online from anywhere

Badges of the four teams in the Rugby Championship
(Image credit: Super Rugby)

It looks like the All Blacks are going to take some stopping as they look to wrestle back their crown as the finest rugby playing nation in the Southern Hemisphere. You can see all the action by following our guide on how to watch a 2021 Rugby Championship live stream - including for free

The Springboks are the reigning world champions and No. 1-ranked side on the planet and returned to the tournament straight off the back of a bruising Lions series victory. But after two straight defeats at the hands of a resurgent Australia, it will now take a minor miracle to deny New Zealand.

Rugby Championship live stream 2021

Dates: Saturday, August 14 - Saturday, October 2

2019 champions: South Africa 

FREE live stream: 9Now (opens in new tab) (Australia games)

Global live streams: Sky Sport (opens in new tab) (NZ) | Stan Sport (opens in new tab) (Aus) | SuperSport (opens in new tab) (SA) | Sky Sports (opens in new tab) (UK) | FloRugby (opens in new tab) (US)

Watch anywhere: try the No.1 rated VPN  - 100% risk-free trial  (opens in new tab)

The Boks and the All Blacks both have claims over the title of reigning champion, South Africa having triumphed in 2019 before New Zealand took home last year's abbreviated Tri Nations series.

As ever, the Rugby Championship contained the final two legs of the Bledisloe Cup. But New Zealand were just too much for Australia - will the Springboks have any better luck?

Argentina did after all beat the Kiwis for the first time ever last year, and Ian Foster's men have played very little competitive rugby since. The Wallabies, meanwhile, have a new-look squad that blends youth with experience, and may well be the tournament's dark horse.

We're all set, so follow our guide as we explain all the ways to get a 2021 Rugby Championship live stream wherever you are right now - starting with how to watch the Rugby Championship for FREE in Australia. We also have a Rugby Championship fixture list at the bottom of the page - with Covid throwing some of the scheduling into disarray.


How to live stream Rugby Championship from outside your country

If you're outside your country of residence - whether that be the UK or anywhere else - and try to start streaming the Rugby Championship via your native broadcaster, you'll soon discover that you can't, as it's location restricted. But there is a way to tune in regardless.

By downloading and installing a VPN, you can effectively trick your computer into thinking that it's back at home. That way you can enjoy your home coverage without having to find an illegal stream - assuming you comply with the broadcaster's fine print, of course - specifically its terms and conditions.

Use a VPN to watch Rugby Championship from anywhere

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Once you have it, you simply need to turn your VPN on, select a server in a country that's showing the game and go to the relevant streaming service's site or app - easy!

australia flag

How to watch Rugby Championship: live stream FREE in Australia

9Now streaming service (opens in new tab)

Aussie rugby fans can watch all of the Wallabies' Rugby Championship games without paying a penny thanks to Channel 9 and, more specifically, 9Gem. That means that they're all completely FREE to watch.

That means you can also fire up a Rugby Championship live stream on the 9Now streaming service (opens in new tab), which is completely free to use, too, and compatible with laptops, tablets, mobiles and an array of streaming services such as Apple TV, Chromecast, Fetch, PlayStation, Amazon Fire and smart TVs.

However, die-hard rugby fans might want to take a look at Stan Sport, which is live streaming every single Rugby Championship match

A subscription costs $10 per month (on top of a $10 Stan sub), but you can take advantage of a 7-day FREE trial (opens in new tab).

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

new zealand flag

How to watch Rugby Championship: live stream in New Zealand

Sky Sport (opens in new tab)

Live Rugby Championship coverage in New Zealand comes courtesy of Sky Sport (opens in new tab), which is available as part of a range of pay TV packages. 

Subscribers can watch online using the country's Sky Go service, while cord-cutters and anyone else can try the Sky Sport Now streaming-only platform - where a weekly pass costs just $19.99.

Anyone in New Zealand from abroad or vice-versa can use the VPN route (opens in new tab) outlined earlier to access their preferred coverage just like they would at home.

South Africa flag

(Image credit: Future)

Live stream Rugby Championship 2021: how to watch every match live in South Africa

via the network's streaming service (opens in new tab)

Live coverage of the Rugby Championship will be shown exclusively on subscription service SuperSport in South Africa. 

And if you're away from your TV at any point of the tournament, you can also watch the action via the network's streaming service (opens in new tab) for PC and Mac, as well as via SuperSport's dedicated app.

If you want to catch SuperSport's coverage but are out of the country, you can use a VPN (opens in new tab) to tune in from anywhere. 

uk flag

How to watch 2021 Rugby Championship online in the UK

Sky Sports (opens in new tab)

Live coverage of the 2021 Rugby Championship comes courtesy of Sky Sports (opens in new tab) in the UK. 

Sky subscribers can watch on-the-go or stream on a range of devices with the provider's Sky Go app (opens in new tab), which is available on nearly all modern phones, tablets, laptops, PCs and consoles. 

For rugby fans without Sky, the best alternative is the more flexible streaming option, Now TV, where you can buy a Sky Sports membership.

Not in the UK right now? No worries - you can download and install a VPN (opens in new tab) to port yourself back home to tune in as normal. 

usa flag

How to watch Rugby Championship: live stream in the US

FloRugby (opens in new tab)

Dedicated rugby streaming service FloRugby (opens in new tab) has the broadcast rights for the Rugby Championship in the US. 

A FloRugby monthly subscription costs $29.99, with an annual subscription costing $150. 

Both packages give you access to the entire FloSports network, which includes coverage of cycling, motorsport and American Football, all of which can be watched on a range of devices, including iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV.

canada flag

How to live stream Rugby Championship in Canada

TSN Direct streaming service (opens in new tab)

In Canada, you can watch the Rugby Championship through TSN, but bear in mind that it's online-only.

The good news is its TSN Direct streaming service (opens in new tab) can be had from just $7.99 a day or (much better value) $19.99 a month and can be purchased by anyone - regardless of whether you have the channel as part of a pay TV package in the country or not.

Having said that, existing subscribers should note they can log-in to watch TSN live streams at no extra charge with details of their provider. 

If you decide to subscribe or already have, remember you can take your favorite sports streaming service with you wherever you go - just try our No. 1 overall rated VPN 100% risk-free for 30-days (opens in new tab) and follow the instructions above.

Australia vs Argentina in the Rugby Championship

(Image credit: JUAN JOSE GASPARINI/AFP/Getty Images)

2021 Rugby Championship remaining fixtures and schedule

Just when you thought it was safe to schedule sporting events again, the C-word rears its ugly head to disrupt the schedule even further. Below is the latest information we have on upcoming Rugby Championship fixtures... but they are of course subject to change.

Saturday, September 18 2021

  • Australia vs South Africa - 5.05pm AEDT
  • Argentina vs New Zealand - 10.05pm NZT

Saturday, September 25 2021

  • New Zealand vs South Africa - 7.05pm NZT
  • Australia vs Argentina - 8.05pm AEDT

Saturday, October 2 2021

  • Argentina vs Australia - 5.05pm AEDT
  • South Africa vs New Zealand - 10.05pm NZT

Aatif Sulleyman

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.