There's a sneaky way to watch Six Nations 2026 for free

Henry Pollock of England celebrates scoring his team's second try with teammate Luke Cowan-Dickie during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between England and Australia at Allianz Stadium on November 01, 2025 in London, England.

(Image credit: Patrick Khachfe - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

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Six Nations: Thursday, February 5 - Saturday, March 14
FREE streams: ITVX & BBC iPlayer (UK) / RTÉ Player & Virgin Media Play (IRE)
Access your usual streaming services with NordVPN (save 70% today)

The Six Nations are here and what a month of rugby we have in store.

There are plenty of free streams available, but what if you're based in the U.S., Australia or Canada? Can you watch it for free and on which apps?

Well lucky for you, we've put a guide together on how to watch the Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world across February and march.

How to watch Six Nations for free

All Six Nations 2026 games will be live-streamed for free across the UK, Ireland, and France — just tune in and enjoy.

🇬🇧 UK: ITVX & BBC iPlayer (every match)
🇮🇪 Ireland: RTÉ Player & Virgin Media Play (every match)
🇫🇷 France: France TV (all French internationals)

Those outside the above countries on holiday or vacation will need a VPN to access their free streams, find out how to do that just below.

How to watch Six Nations 2026 from anywhere in the world

Outside the UK, Ireland of France on holiday? Make sure you take advantage of a VPN so you can access your free stream of every Six Nations game across February and March.

You've certainly got a lot of VPNs to choose from, but our money would go towards NordVPN. We'll talk you through how to subscribe to this popular choice below and enjoy every minute of the Six Nations.

We did our research and trust us when we say it's one of the easiest ways to use a VPN and watch Six Nations action away from home.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is #1 ranked.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For example, if you're travelling in the US but from the UK, select 'United Kingdom' from the listed countries.

3. Sit back and enjoy the rugby. Head to your streaming site or app and watch every game free of charge.

Free Six Nations streams Q+A

What can I expect from the free streams available in the Six Nations?

Every broadcaster, from France TV to BBC iPlayer, serves as the primary broadcaster in its respective country. This means plenty of expert analysis, pre-match build-up, and post-match discussion.

On the BBC, you can expect the likes of Martin Johnson and Sam Warburton, while ITV will feature experts such as Ben Kay, David Flatman, and Shane Williams.

In Ireland, you’ll see the likes of Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls, and Simon Zebo, while in France, Matthieu Lartot and Dimitri Yachvili provide analysis and commentary.

Where can I watch Six Nations Round 1 matches for free?

Thursday, February 5
8:10pm - France vs Ireland: Stream free on ITVX (UK), Virgin Media Play (IRE), France TV (FRA)

Saturday, February 7
2:10pm - Italy vs Scotland: Stream free on BBC iPlayer (UK), Virgin Media Play (IRE)
4:40pm - England vs Wales: Stream free on ITVX (UK), RTÉ Player (IRE)

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Jacob is a journalist and editor based in the UK. He studied Specialist Sports Journalism at the University of Derby, graduating with First-Class Honours. He has contributed articles to Football League World and previously worked at Yeovil Town Football Club. Jacob’s expertise spans streaming services and sports, with a particular passion for football, cricket, and rugby union.