The best clubs in Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales compete for the United Rugby Championship title. Here’s how to follow the action…
Watch live URC coverage as the annual competition between Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales gets underway.
– Dates: September 25, 2026 – June 19, 2026
– Broadcasters of the United Rugby Championship: Premier Sports (UK/Ireland), FloRugby (USA), SuperSport (South Africa), URC TV (rest of the world)
– Watch selected matches for free: S4C Clic/BBC iPlayer (UK), TG4 (Ireland)
– Watch from anywhere: Get up to 75% off with NordVPN
Leinster are looking to complete a hat-trick of titles in long-serving head coach Leo Cullen’s final season in charge, but regulars Glasgow Warriors, Bulls and Stormers are unlikely to let them complete the treble. Whoever lifts the trophy in June’s grand final will put miles in the air and hard yards on the pitch.
Below you will find details of where to watch United Rugby Championship live broadcasts around the world, including viewing options Scarlets v Cardiff, Connacht v Stormers and Lions v Leinster for free. . We also explain how you can use a VPN to watch your regular service from anywhere on the planet.
You will find all appointments for this weekend at the bottom of the page.
Free URC live streams this weekend
Most United Rugby Championship matches are only available on subscription services. In the UK and Ireland, however, selected games are available for free on most matchday weekends.
United Kingdom
In the UK, Welsh language service S4C will show one live match per round for free. The games will come with Welsh and English commentary and are available on terrestrial TV channel S4C as well as S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer streaming services.
You can watch the following URC live stream this weekend:
- Saturday, September 26 Scarlets v Cardiff (kick-off: 7.45pm BST)
Ireland
Free Irish language broadcaster TG4 will show at least 26 URC live broadcasts this season and will also have coverage of the Grand Final in June.
This weekend there are a couple of games between Ireland and South Africa:
- Friday, September 25 Connacht v Stormers (kick-off: 12.30pm BST)
- Saturday, September 26 Lions v Leinster (kick-off: 7.45pm BST)
The other five URC matches this weekend are available on the Premier Sports subscription service in the UK and Ireland – more on that below.
Traveling abroad this weekend? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your usual free United Rugby Championship live streams. Read on for details on how you can use a VPN to watch your usual service from abroad.
Watch URC live broadcasts from abroad
Being away from home doesn’t have to stop you from watching any URC action this season. A VPN bypasses geoblocking by changing your IP address, allowing you to stream all the action as if you were at home. NordVPN is our favorite and rated at the top of the VPN league by our peers at TechRadar.
United Rugby Championship live stream in UK
Premier Sports has UK rights to every URC game in the 2026-27 season.
You can buy a standalone Premier Sports online subscription, which works across a variety of apps and devices. It costs £18.99 a month on an ongoing basis, £13.99 a month on an annual contract, or £130 a year (less than £11 a month) if you pay in advance.
Another option is to watch Premier Sports on TV via Sky Q, Prime Video, STV Player and Virgin Media. The variable monthly cost is, again, £18.99, although other offers are available on certain platforms.
Premier Sports subscribers can also enjoy coverage of the European Champions Cup, European Challenge Cup and the French Top 14. You can also watch Scottish Premiership and La Liga football.
How to watch URC matches in Ireland
Premier Sports is also the place to watch URC live in Ireland.
If you’re an existing Sky Sports customer, you can add Premier Sports to your subscription as part of the Sports Extra package (which also includes TNT Sports). This costs €10 per month for the first six months, before increasing to €25 per month for the next six months.
Premier Sports is also available with Now Sports Extra membership (daily and monthly memberships available from €11.99 per month) and via Virgin Media – check out their website for details.
You are broadcasting the United Rugby Championship in South Africa
Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers fans can watch their team in action via the road SuperSport in South Africa.
There are several of them SuperSport packages available whether you want to watch via DStv or streaming.
Watch URC Live Streams in USA
As with the Gallagher PREM, the European Champions Cup and the Top 14, FloRugby is the destination for viewers who want to watch URC live broadcasts in the USA.
A subscription to FloRugby gives you access to the entire FloSports network, which means you can also watch cycling, motor sports, American football and more.
It will cost you $39.99 per month for a subscription, although you can save a lot if you sign up for a full year – it’ll cost you $155.88, which is just $12.99 per month.
Stream URC worldwide
If you live in a country where URC doesn’t have a separate rights deal (basically, anywhere outside of the UK, USA and South Africa), you’ll need to look at URC TV. The season ticket will cost you €59.99. (Some games may be available on URC TV in Ireland and Italy.)
United Rugby Championship Fixtures: Round 1
Planning ahead? Check out our guide to every URC match in the 2026-27 season.
Friday 25.09.2026
- Benetton v Dragons
Monigo Stadium, Treviso
Start: 19.45 BST - Connacht v Stormers – FREE ON TG4 IN IRELAND
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Start: 19.45 BST - Ulster v Edinburgh
Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Start: 19.45 BST
Saturday 26.09.2026
- Lions v Leinster – FREE TG4 IN IRELAND
10Bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Start: 12.30pm BST - Sharks v Ospreys
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Start: 15.00 BST - Munster v Glasgow Warriors
Thomond Park, Limerick
Kick off: 5.30pm BST - Zebra Parma v Bulls
Sergio Lanfranchi Stadium, Parma
Kick off: 5.30pm BST - Scarlets v Cardiff – FREE ON S4C UK
Scarlets Park, Llanelli
Start: 19.45 BST
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