Leinster are defending champions after smashing the Bulls of South Africa 32-7 in last season’s Grand Final to take a fifth title in eight season, albeit a first since 2021. Leo Cullen’s side will again start as favorites this season, with Caelan Doris, Sam Prendergast, Josh van der Flier and James Lowe providing the bulk of the Irish international side.
The Bulls were second in the table last year, and will again be strong, with Springbok regulars Willie le Roux, Ruan Nortje and Cobus Wiese among their number. Fellow South Africans the Sharks have Boks skipper Siya Kolisi, plus monstrous forward Ox Nche.
Among the Welsh sides, the Scarlets were the only to reach last season’s playoffs and will hope that can be a springboard for a better showing in the principality. Prop Harri O’Connor and South African hooker Marnus van der Merwe mean their pack is strong.
The Fagerson brothers Matt and Xander are the highlights of the Glasgow Warriors squad, with Huw Jones providing line-breaking guile at center after a solid showing for the British and Irish Lions in Australia earlier this summer.
Here’s where to watch the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams online from anywhere, potentially for FREE.
Watch the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship for FREE
Rugby union fans, rejoice! Select matches from the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship are being shown on free-to-air streaming platforms in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Each gameweek, Welsh-language TV channel S4C will show a minimum of one United Rugby Championship fixture featuring a Welsh side. This will also be available on streaming platform BBC iPlayer. There will also be a further ‘deferred live’ game each week, which means 20 live games and 18 deferred broadcasts across the 25/26 season.
In Ireland, meanwhile, free-to-air Irish-language broadcaster TG4, and its streaming platform, will show a minimum of 26 live games involving Irish sides during the regular 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season. TG4 will share coverage of the play-offs, too, excluding the Grand Final.
What if you’re abroad? Rugby fans from the UK and Republic of Ireland can use NordVPN to watch their usual streaming service from anywhere.
How to watch any United Rugby Championship 2025/26 stream using a VPN
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it’s back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 70% discount.
How to watch United Rugby Championship 2025/26 live streams in the US
The 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams are on FloRugby in the USA. That’s right, each of the 151 matches will be shown live and on-demand on the streaming platform.
Plans start from $29.99 a month, or you can opt for the $150 annual subscription.
On vacation outside the US? Use a VPN to watch FloRugby from abroad while you’re away from home.
How to watch 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams in the UK
In the UK, Premier Sports is the only destination to watch all 151 matches the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship. Some 131 of these will be exclusively live.
A subscription costs £15.99 per month, but if you’re willing to commit to a year you’ll pay £99.00, which works out at £8.25 each month.
Premier Sports also holds the rights to the Champions Cup, Top 14 and United Rugby Championship, La Liga and Coppa Italia.
As we’ve mentioned above, free-to-air options S4C and BBC iPlayer will show 20 live matches involving Welsh sides during the season.
If you’re a UK resident but traveling outside the country you can use a VPN to catch the action for on Premier Sports from abroad.
How to watch 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams in South Africa
The 2025/26 United Rugby Championship will be televised on subscription service SuperSport.
You’ll need to get a DStv access package to watch the URC on SuperSport with prices starting at R99 ($5.66) per month.
Abroad right now? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you’re back home and you’ll be good to go.
How to watch 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams in Australia
Fans based in Australia can watch live streams of all 151 fixtures in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship on the competition’s dedicated streaming platform URC TV.
A season’s pass costs €59.99 (it’s billed in Euros), and will let you watch all 151 fixtures from the United Rugby Championship 2025/26.
Away from Australia, or your home country, right now? Use a VPN to watch EPCR TV from abroad.
How to watch 2025/26 United Rugby Championship live streams in Canada
Rugby fans in Canada can watch live streams of all 151 fixtures in the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship on the competition’s dedicated streaming platform URC TV.
A season’s pass costs €44.99 (it’s billed in Euros), and will let you watch all 151 fixtures from the United Rugby Championship 2025/26. Or, if you prefer to stream on a month-by-month basis, it’ll cost you €6.75 per month.
Traveling outside the Great White North right now? Use a VPN to watch URC TV from abroad.
Official Challenge Cup final broadcasters by region
Premier Sports has the rights to the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship in Asian countries.
The 2025/26 United Rugby Championship is being shown on URC TV in every country where the competition hasn’t been picked up by a broadcaster.
2025/26 United Rugby Championship Q+A
Can I watch the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship for free?
Yes! As we’ve outlined above, select matches will be available to viewers in the UK (S4C and BBC iPlayer) and Republic of Ireland (TG4) to watch the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship for free.
Fans away from home can use a VPN to watch the free coverage from abroad.
What are the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship teams?
Ireland
Connacht
Munster
Leinster
Ulster
Wales
Ospreys
Scarlets
Dragons
Cardiff
South Africa
Bulls
Lions
Sharks
Stormers
Scotland
Edinburgh
Glasgow Warriors
Italy
Benetton
Zebre Parma
Who are the recent United Rugby Championship winners?
2025 – Leinster
2024 – Glasgow Warriors
2023 –Munster
2022 – Stormers
2021 – Leinster
2020 – Leinster
2019 – Leinster
2018 – Leinster
2017 – Scarlets
2016 – Connacht
2015 – Glasgow Warriors
What format is the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship?
There are 16 teams in the United Rugby Championship: four from Ireland, Wales and South Africa, and two from Italy and Scotland. These teams are split into four regional pools, with the two Scottish and Italian teams making four pools of four teams.
Every side plays home and away against the teams in their regional pool, and also play another 12 fixtures against teams from other pools. After the round-robin stage, the top eight in the table go on to the Playoffs.
As an extra incentive, the top side from each regional pool also qualifies for the Heineken Champions Cup, with the remaining four places in the competition go to the highest ranked teams who have not yet qualified. The eight remaining teams then play in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Can I watch the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone’s browser.
You can also stay up-to-date with all things United Rugby Championship on the official EPCR Challenge Cup social media channels on X (@URCOfficial), YouTube (@UnitedRugbyChampionship) and Instagram (@URC).
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.
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