The 2023 season of the National Rugby League runs from March 2 until October 1. If you are a fan of this exciting Rugby League championship, you may be wondering how to watch it online. Unfortunately, streaming platforms that carry NRL are geo-restricted. This means you will need a VPN to watch NRL from abroad.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online privacy service. It works by encrypting your traffic to stop your ISP, local network administrators, government snoops, and eavesdroppers from being able to track what you do online. It also stops websites from tracking your home IP address.
A happy byproduct of how a VPN works, is that you can pretend to be in a different country. By connecting to a VPN server in Australia, for example, you can get a valid Australian IP address. This lets you stream NRL games live on Channel 9, Foxtel, or Kayo Sports – from anywhere in the world. Alternatively, you can connect to an IP address abroad to use the Watch NRL app in Australia.
If you want to watch the NRL season while traveling abroad, you will need the help of a VPN to access your usual home services. Below we will explain how to watch NRL from anywhere and recommend the best VPNs for the job.
How to watch NRL from anywhere with a VPN
Not all VPNs work to stream NRL abroad. This is because streaming platforms like Watch NRL, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports make every effort to block VPNs. They do this to stop consumers from bypassing their geo-restrictions to stream NRL abroad.
To help you out, we have pinpointed several VPNs that work to watch NRL on vacation. You can use the guide below to set up your VPN and start watching NRL from anywhere.
Here’s how to stream NRL online from anywhere:
- Get a fully functioning VPN for NRL. We recommend NordVPN because it has fast servers that work to watch NRL. Alternatively, Surfshark is the cheapest VPN for NRL and ExpressVPN is a fantastic all-rounder.
- Follow one of our links to subscribe. Our link will automatically engage a discount code; getting you the best NRL VPN at the lowest possible cost!
- Download the VPN app and install it. Our recommendations have apps for all popular devices to let you watch NRL on your phone, tablet, desktop, or laptop.
- Launch the VPN app and log in using your credentials.
- Pick a VPN server in Australia (or in another country that has a stream of the NRL) and click connect.
As soon as your VPN connects you should be able to watch NRL from anywhere. Simply navigate to the streaming provider’s website and stream the game you are interested in. If you have any issues streaming NRL with your VPN, try clearing the cookies and cache in your browser, as this may allow the stream to detect your real location.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP NRL VPN RISK FREE?
NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for NRL without limits or restrictions for a month—great if you want to access NRL streams on vacation or while living overseas.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
How to watch NRL on Australian TV
As you would expect, Australians get the most choice when it comes to streaming NRL. This should come as no surprise because NRL is Australia’s professional rugby league. Broadcasts of the NRL Premiership are shared across the following broadcasters:
- Channel 9 (free)
- Foxtel Now (AU$49 per month)
- Kayo Sports (AU$25 per month)
The good news is that anybody can watch at least some NRL games without paying a cent. Channel Nine will be streaming three live matches per round as well as the Finals Series and the Grand Final on 9Now for free.
Whether you already have a Foxtel or Kayor Sports subscription and want to be able to watch games on vacation – or you want to access 9Now from abroad to stream NRL games for free – you will need a VPN for NRL
All three Australian streaming providers mentioned above use geo-restrictions. This means they are only available with a valid Australian IP address. The good news is that all three of our recommended VPNs have servers in Australia that work to watch Rugby League.
How to watch NRL in New Zealand
In New Zealand, NRL rugby is broadcast on Sky Sports. You can watch this coverage via two different means…
Your first option is to watch Sky’s coverage with a Fan Pass. This costs NZ$15.99 per month to stream on iOS and Android devices or NZ$55.99 per month to stream on any device (if you sign up for 6 months). The mobile-limited plan offers the best value for money and is a superb option for anybody who is traveling or living outside of Australia
Alternatively, you can choose to subscribe directly to Sky Sports to watch the NRL league via the Sky GO app. This costs NZ$54.81 per month for the Sky starter pack and the Sky Sports package combined (you need both to use Sky Go to stream NRL).
Both Fan Pass and Sky Go are geo-restricted to prevent viewers from accessing Sky’s TV service from abroad. This means that you will need an IP address in New Zealand to subscribe and watch NRL on Sky TV New Zealand.
The good news is that all three of our recommendations have servers in New Zealand. They also have a money-back guarantee so that you can test them for free to watch rugby.
How to watch NRL in the UK
Whether you live in or are visiting the UK, you may be wondering how to stream NRL online. The good news is that there are a couple of different options.
Firstly, you can watch the NRL on Sky Sports. Specifically, Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Mix, which broadcast around three live matches each week. To watch these channels you can subscribe to Sky Sports directly to stream the NRL using the Sky GO app. This will cost you £41 per month in total (for a basic Sky plan plus Sky Sports).
Alternatively, you can watch NRL on Sky sports via the third-party streaming platform Now TV. Now TV allows you to access Sky Sports without an ongoing contract at a cost of just £20 per month for the first six months and £33.99 per month thereafter. The service lets you stream all 11 Sky Sports channels on up to three devices simultaneously.
Finally, anybody can stream every single game of the NRL live and on-demand using the NRL Watch app. You can download NRL Watch from the Google Play Store or Apple App store. It is the official international service powered by Fox Sports.
The only problem with this option is that it is a little pricey, but you do get complete access to every NRL game, highlights, and replays of all matches from the last three years! A single week subscription costs £13, a monthly subscription is £25, and an annual subscription is £130, which reduces the cost to just £10.83 per month.
Note that Sky GO, Now TV, and Watch NRL are all geo-restricted for viewers in the UK. This means that you will need to connect to a server in England to stream the matches. Thankfully, all three best VPNs for NRL have UK IPs that work to access all three platforms. This means you can easily watch your account on vacation, or even subscribe from elsewhere.
How to watch NRL in the US
If you are an Australian visiting or living in the US – or are just an insatiable rugby fan stuck in the land of American football – we have some good news! There are official ways for you to stream NRL online.
You can watch FOX League shows like NRL360, Narrow World of Sports and The Late Show with Matty Johns. You can stream FOX in the US via various different streaming platforms including Hulu with live TV, DirectTV Stream, YouTube TV, Sling TV, and fubo TV.
US rugby fans can also pay to watch NRL via the official Watch NRL app. This will cost you $17 for a weekly pass, $33 for a monthly subscription, and $165 for a yearly subscription. This may sound a little pricey, but it is by far the best way to get comprehensive coverage of the NRL 2023 league.
Just remember that all the American streaming services mentioned above are region locked. So, if you leave the US on vacation you will need to use a VPN to get a valid US IP address. Our top recommendation NordVPN has super-fast servers in 15 US cities, many of which are optimized for streaming.
Other streaming options
In addition to the options above, it is worth noting that the Watch NRL app is available in most countries around the world. We have explained which countries it is blocked in below. This means that you should be able to download the app and start watching NRL live throughout the EU, and in many other locations around the globe.
In which countries is the Watch NRL app blocked?
Watch NRL is the international streaming platform powered by Fox Sports. It is designed to give rugby league fans around the world the opportunity to stream the entire NRL championship.
Unfortunately, due to the broadcasting rights held by countries in the Asia Pacific region, this service is not available in many places. To help you out, below we have included a list of countries where Watch NRL is blocked:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Samoa
- Tonga
- The Cook Islands
- East Timor
- Solomon Islands
- Niue
- Nauru
- Vanuatu
- Kiribati
- Northern Marianas
- Tokelau
- Tahiti
- Tuvalu
- New Caledonia
- American Samoa
- Marshall Islands
- Palau
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Papua New Guinea
- Wallis and Futuna
- Iles Eparses
- Polynese-Franca
The good news is that anybody living in these countries can still use the Watch NRL app if they want to. To watch the NRL app in any restricted country, simply connect to a VPN server outside of the regions listed above. This will give you full access to the app and all its features.
Just remember that if you subscribe to Watch NRL in a restricted region, you will need to connect to a VPN server every time you use the app.
How to use the Watch NRL app in Australia and New Zealand
If you are a massive fan of the National Rugby League and you do not want to subscribe to Foxtel, Kayo Sports, or Sky Sports, you may be pulling your hair out due to the unavailability of the Watch NRL App.
The good news is that you can regain access to the Watch NRL app in Australia, New Zealand, or anywhere else. All you need to do is to connect to a VPN server in a country such as the UK, the US, Canada, or the EU. This will allow you to bypass the local geo-restrictions imposed by Fox.
To help you out further, we have included a guide that explains how to use the Watch NRL app in Australia or New Zealand below:
- Subscribe to a recommended VPN from this guide. We recommend NordVPN because it is super fast for streaming rugby.
- Download and install the VPN onto your streaming device
- Select a server in a country where Watch NRL is available. We have included a list of blocked countries above; you can connect to just about any other country to use the app.
- Stream games on Watch NRL from anywhere in the world
How many NRL teams will there be in 2023?
The number of NRL teams has increased from 16 to 17 for the 2023 NRL season with the addition of the Dolphins. Here are the 17 competing teams:
- Brisbane Broncos
- Canberra Raiders
- Canterbury Bulldogs
- Cronulla Sharks
- Dolphins
- Gold Coast Titans
- Manly Sea Eagles
- Melbourne Storm
- New Zealand Warriors
- Newcastle Knights
- North Queensland Cowboys
- Parramatta Eels
- Penrith Panthers
- South Sydney Rabbitohs
- St George Illawarra Dragons
- Sydney Roosters
- Wests Tigers
Is it illegal to use a VPN to watch NRL overseas?
Fortunately, it’s not illegal to use a VPN to watch NRL overseas. However, it may go against the terms and conditions of the streaming platform you’re using. Even if this is the case, it’s highly unlikely any action will be taken against your account. The worst case scenario is that Foxtel or Kayo Sports blocks the VPN IP address you’re using. You can quickly and easily get around this by switching servers and changing your IP address.
