Latest news with #RugbyChampionship2025
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Sport
- Business Insider
How to watch South Africa vs. Australia: Live stream the 2025 Rugby Championship anywhere
The 2025 Rugby Championship kicks off with champions South Africa taking on wooden spoon holders Australia at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, and we have all the info that you need to watch South Africa vs. Australia, whatever hemisphere you're in. As well as the reigning Rugby Championship victors, the Springboks also hold the World Cup and the top spot in the international rugby rankings. With an 88% winning record, Rassie Erasmus is building a dynasty and is now seeking the country's first back-to-back titles in this tournament. It's been almost three years since they've lost to the Wallabies, so his side will start as heavy favorites as the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, and Pieter-Steph du Toit all start in a very experienced XV. They may have ultimately lost the series, but the Lions tour of Australia suggested the health of the hosts may be in a better state than previously feared. After losing the second game to a controversial last minute try, the Wallabies powered their way to a win in the third and final fixture to provide some sense of optimism heading into the Rugby Championship. Heading across the Indian Ocean for a double header to begin won't make things easy, but experienced coach Joe Schmidt will have taken heart from their performances and will be buoyed by the return of veteran fly-half James O'Connor. Can the Wallabies out-jump the Springboks? You'll find international broadcasters on which to watch South Africa vs. Australia below, together with details on the kick-off time, streaming platforms, and how to use a VPN to access your live stream if you're overseas this weekend. How to watch South Africa vs. Australia in the UK You can watch South Africa vs. Australia on Sky Sports in the UK; it's the official Rugby Championship 2025 broadcaster. Sky TV plans that include Sky Sports start from £35/month, and you can customize your plan to make sure you get all the channels you need. Or, if you already have Sky, you can add its nine sports channels for an extra £22/month. You can learn more about it in our guide to the best Sky TV deals and plans guide. If you don't want to sign up to a lengthy Sky TV package, then you can opt for a more flexible Now Sports Membership, which starts from as little as £15/day or costs £35 on a rolling monthly basis. How to watch South Africa vs. Australia in the US If you're a big US-based rugby union fan, you're probably already aware of FloRugby. The specialist streamer features loads of live matches in North America and has exclusive rights to show Rugby Championship games — including South Africa vs. Australia — stateside this season. A rolling monthly subscription costs $30, or go for a whole year for $150 to watch every game of the 2025 Rugby Championship along with matches from the Super Rugby, Top 14, and URC. How to watch South Africa vs. Australia in Australia While free-to-air Channel 9 and its 9Now streaming platform have the rights to show the Wallabies' home games and those against New Zealand in this year's Rugby Championship, you can't watch South Africa vs. Australia there. Instead, you'll need a subscription to Stan Sport. The streaming service covers an ever-expanding array of live sports and costs from $32/month (combining a base Stan subscription of $12 with the Sport add-on for $20). How to watch South Africa vs. Australia from anywhere Your domestic coverage of the Rugby Championship won't be available to stream if you're overseas during the South Africa vs. Australia game. It will be blocked due to geographical restrictions, stopping you from watching on FloRugby, Sky Go, or any other platform. Thankfully, there's a way around this so that you still get access to the service you pay for… a VPN. VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks) spoof the IP address on your laptop, smartphone or streaming device so that they think they're in a different country entirely. The very best available is NordVPN, which has a great track record for unblocking streaming platforms and other blocked apps. It's also easy to use, has servers in more than 100 countries, and gives you an extra layer of encrypted cybersecurity when turned on, too. Give it a try risk free for 30 days or, if you're still not convinced, check out our full NordVPN review for more information. How to use a VPN Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one. Install it on the device you're using to watch. Turn it on and set it to the location of your streaming service. Navigate to your streaming service and create an account if necessary. Enjoy the game. What is the South Africa vs. Australia head-to-head record? These two rugby union superpowers have played 95 times since their first fixture back in 1933. The Springboks are currently edging the head-to-head, having won 52 of their encounters compared to the Wallabies' 40. They've drawn three times. South Africa have won their last four clashes, with Australia's drought going back to August 2022. Even more foreboding for the Aussies is that they haven't beaten the Springboks on their turf for more than a decade — a win in Durban back in 2011 when this tournament was still the Tri Nations. What is the venue for South Africa vs. Australia? This Rugby Championship 2025 opener between South Africa vs. Australia will take place at the 62,000-capacity Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, where international rugby union has been played for more than a century. The 1995 Rugby World Cup final — after which Nelson Mandela memorably presented the Webb Ellis Cup to the successful Springboks — was played at Ellis Park, as were seven games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Sport
- Tom's Guide
How to watch Rugby Championship 2025: live stream rugby union online for FREE from anywhere, schedule, squads
The Rugby Championship 2025 live streams provide New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina the opportunity to duke it out for the right to be declared the Southern Hemisphere's best side. There will be six rounds in all, beginning on Saturday, August 16 and running through until Saturday, October 4. You can watch the Rugby Championship 2025 from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free. The 2025 Rugby Championship runs from Saturday, August 16 to Saturday, October 4. Full schedule below.► Match start times: various from 3:05 a.m. ET / 12:05 a.m. PT / 8:05 a.m. BST / 5:05 p.m. AEST► FREE STREAM — 9Now (AUS, Australia home matches and Bledisloe Cup matches only)► U.S. — FloRugby (Tests only)► U.K. — Watch on Sky Sports► Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk free South Africa, the defending champions and two-time reigning World Cup winners, will again start the tournament as favorites. The Springboks lost just once 12 months ago and Rassie Erasmus still boasts the majority of that squad, with the most formidable pack in world rugby still pulling up trees in the form of Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, who will captain the side from number eight for the first time this tournament. New Zealand seem likely to feature prominently again, with the All Blacks having the advantage of two home fixtures against South Africa this year. Scott Robertson are in decent form after dispatching France in the three tests recently, albeit a patched up Bleus side, and have Damian McKenzie and Caleb Clarke – respectively last year's top points and try scorers – in their squad along with the trio of Barrett brothers, captain Scott, Jodie and Beauden. Australia are coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat by the British & Irish Lions, but the Wallabies performed better than expected in the second two tests and were a contentious refereeing decision from taking the series. Rob Valenti is available in a huge plus for head coach Joe Schmidt after the Wallabies finished bottom a year ago, a 67-27 loss to Argentina their nadir in conceding their most points ever in a test match. Argentina won three Rugby Championship fixtures for the first time a year ago, that Australia gubbing joining a 29-28 win over champions South Africa and 38-20 victory against New Zealand in a positive showing for Felipe Contepomi's side. The Pumas beat the Lions in the latter's first tour match, but then lost twice at home to an England side shorn of its best players who were Down Under. Santiago Carreras remains a shining light in the backs after a stellar season with Bath. With the upcoming Nations Championship meaning this will be the last edition of the Rugby Championship for two years, all four sides will be desperate to come out on top and rule the Southern Hemisphere roost for longer than usual. Check out all of the TV and streaming details below to find out how to watch the Rugby Championship 2025 from anywhere, including for FREE. Sat, August 16► South Africa vs Australia► 5:10 p.m. SAST (local time) / 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PT / 4:10 p.m. UK / 1:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.)► Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa ► Argentina vs New Zealand► 6:10 p.m. ART (local time) / 5:10 p.m. ET / 2:10 p.m. PT / 10:10 p.m. UK / 7:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.)► Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Buenos Aires, Argentina Rugby union fans in Australia are in luck, as they can watch live streams of the Wallabies' 2025 Rugby Championship home matches, plus both Bledisloe Cup games against New Zealand, for FREE. That means the final four rounds of the tournament will be shown on Channel 9, which is available to live stream via the 9Now platform. Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Use a VPN to watch the 2025 Rugby Championship action for free — we'll show you how to do that below. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the tennis on your usual subscription? You can still watch the Rugby Championship 2025 tour live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are, making it ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN — we explain why in our NordVPN review. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 115+ countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get 70% off NordVPN with this deal Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. and want to view an Aussie service, you'd select Australia from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to 9Now or another streaming service and watch the 2025 Rugby Championship. Rugby fans based in the U.S. can watch every match of the Rugby Championship 2025 on dedicated rugby streaming service FloRugby. A subscription costs $29.99 per month or $150 per year. Away from the U.S. on vacation right now? Remember to get a NordVPN so you can enjoy your regular Rugby Championship 2025 subscription as you would from back home. Rugby fans in Canada can catch all the 2025 Rugby Championship action on streaming service TSN Plus. A subscription lets you get access to all TSN has to offer, including ATP and WTA tennis and PGA Tour golf, on an $8/month or $80/year subscription basis. If you're outside Canada but have a subscription, you can watch Rugby Championship 2025 live streams using a VPN, such as NordVPN. Sky Sports has the exclusive U.K. and Ireland rights for the Rugby Championship 2025. It will go out on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action channels. Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the rugby on mobile devices via the Sky Go app that's available for iOS, iPadOS and Android devices, along with Xbox and PlayStation consoles. If you want to sign up, you can check out Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices. Or, if you don't fancy being locked into a contract, you could opt for a NOW Sports membership with plans starting at £14.99 a month. If you're abraod right now you can still follow your usual Rugby Championship 2025 live stream by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN. As we mentioned earlier, Australia's home matches and two Bledisloe Cup fixtures against New Zealand in the 2025 Rugby Championship are being broadcast for FREE across Channel 9 and 9Gem, with live streaming available for free via 9Now. What about the Wallabies' first two matches and all the other matches in the tournament? Stan Sport is where you want to go for that. They offer ad-free coverage of every single Rugby Championship 2025 fixture and and it will cost AU$32 for the Premium Plan and Sports add-on. Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch all the action on 9Now as if you were back home. Kiwis can access the Rugby Championship 2025 live streams via Sky Sport Now. This costs $29.99/week, $54.99/month or $549.99/year. Sky Sport in New Zealand is also the home of Formula 1, and countless other sports from around the world. Not at home in New Zealand right now? You can still follow every game by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN. The 2025 Rugby Championship will be televised on subscription service SuperSport. You'll need a DStv access package to watch SuperSport with prices starting at R99 per month. The games will be broadcast on their dedicated rugby channel. Outside South Africa for the tour? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you're back home and you'll be good to go. If you want to watch the Rugby Championship 2025 in 4K, you'll need the Australia based Stan Sport. It offers ad-free coverage of every match on every court, with the Stan Sport add-on costing $15. You'll also need the Stan Premium base plan, which is $21 per month. Sky Sports is also an option in the U.K.. You'll need Sky Q Box and the relevant subscription, specifically to Sky Sports Main Event. New Zealand Click for the Full Squad ▼ Forwards Brodie McAlister (Hooker)Codie Taylor (Hooker)Samisoni Taukei'aho (Hooker)Ethan de Groot (Prop)Tyrel Lomax (Prop)Fletcher Newell (Prop)Ollie Norris (Prop)Pasilio Tosi (Prop)Tamaiti Williams (Prop)Scott Barrett (Lock, Captain)Fabian Holland (Lock)Patrick Tuipulotu (Lock)Tupou Vaa'i (Lock)Samipeni Finau (Back row)Luke Jacobson (Back row)Du'Plessis Kirifi (Back row)Peter Lakai (Back row)Simon Parker (Back row)Ardie Savea (Back row)Wallace Sititi (Back row) Backs Noah Hotham (Scrum half)Cortez Ratima (Scrum half)Cam Roigard (Scrum half)Beauden Barrett (Fly half)Damian McKenzie (Fly half)Jordie Barrett (Center)Anton Lienert-Brown (Center)Billy Proctor (Center)Timoci Tavatavanawai (Center)Quinn Tupaea (Center)Caleb Clarke (Wing)Rieko Ioane (Wing)Emoni Narawa (Wing)Will Jordan (Fullback)Ruben Love (Fullback) South Africa Click for the Full Squad ▼ Forwards Josh Nasser (Hooker)Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Hooker)Billy Pollard (Hooker)Angus Bell (Prop)Zane Nonggorr (Prop)Tom Robertson (Prop)Aidan Ross (Prop)James Slipper (Prop)Taniela Tupou (Prop)Nick Frost (Lock)Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Lock)Will Skelton (Lock)Jeremy Williams (Lock)Nick Champion de Crespigny (Back row)Langi Gleeson (Back row)Tom Hooper (Back row)Fraser McReight (Back row)Carlo Tizzano (Back row)Rob Valenti (Back row)Harry Wilson (Back row, Captain) Backs Ryan Lonergan (Scrum half)Tate McDermott (Scrum half)Nic White (Scrum half)Ben Donaldson (Fly half)Tane Edmed (Fly half)James O'Connor (Fly half)Josh Flook (Center)Len Ikitau (Center)Hunter Paisami (Center)Joseph Sua'ali'i (Center)Max Jorgensen (Wing)Andrew Kellaway (Wing)Dylan Pietsch (Wing)Corey Toole (Wing)Tom Wright (Fullback) South Africa Click for the Full Squad ▼ Forwards Malcolm Marx (Hooker)Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker)Marnus van der Merwe (Hooker)Vincent Koch (Prop)Wilco Louw (Prop)Ox Nche (Prop)Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Prop)Boan Venter (Prop)Jan-Hendrick Wessels (Prop)Lood de Jager (Lock)Jean-Luc de Preez (Lock)Eben Etzebeth (Lock)Franco Mostert (Lock)Ruan Nortje (Lock)RG Snyman (Lock)Pieter-Steph du Toit (Back row)Siya Kolisi (Back row, Captain)Kwagga Smith (Back row)Marco van Staden (Back row)Cobus Wiese (Back row) Backs Cobus Reinach (Scrum half)Morne van den Berg (Scrum half)Grant Williamss (Scrum half)Sacha Feinberg-Mnomezulu (Fly half)Manie Libbok (Fly half)Handre Pollard (Fly half)Damian de Allende (Center)Andre Esterhuizen (Center)Ethan Hooker (Center)Jesse Kriel (Center)Kurt-Lee Arendse (Wing)Cheslin Kolbe (Wing)Canan Moodie (Wing)Edwill van der Merwe (Wing)Aphelele Fassi (Fullback)Willie le Roux (Fullback) Argentina Click for the Full Squad ▼ Forwards Bautista Bernasconi (Hooker)Julian Montoya (Hooker, Captain)Ignacio Ruiz (Hooker)Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Prop)Francisco Coria Marchetti (Prop)Pedro Delgado (Prop)Joel Sclavi (Prop)Mayco Vivas (Prop)Boris Wenger (Prop)Franco Molina (Lock)Pedro Rubiolo (Lock)Lucas Paulos (Lock)Guido Petti (Lock)Nicolas D'Amorim (Back row)Juan Martin Gonzalez (Back row)Santiago Grondona (Back row)Marcos Kremer (Back row)Pablo Matera (Back row)Joaquin Oviedo (Back row) Backs Simon Benitez Cruz (Scrum half)Gonzalo Garcia (Scrum half)Agustin Montoya (Scrum half)Tomas Albornoz (Fly half)Geronimo Prisciantelli (Fly half)Santiago Chocobares (Center)Lucio Cinti (Center)Justo Piccardo (Center)Mateo Carreras (Wing)Bautista Delguy (Wing)Rodrigo Isgro (Wing)Ignacio Mendy (Wing)Santiago Carreras (Fullback)Benjamin Elizalde (Fullback)Juan Cruz Mallia (Fullback) Click for the full Rugby Championship 2025 schedule ▼ Saturday, August 16: South Africa vs AustraliaLocal: 5:10 p.m. SASTU.S.: 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PTU.K.: 4:10 p.m. BSTAUS: 1:10 p.m. AEST (Sun.) Argentina vs New ZealandLocal: 6:10 p.m. ARTU.S.: 5:10 p.m. ET / 2:10 p.m. PTU.K.: 10:10 p.m. BSTAUS: 7:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.) Saturday, August 23: South Africa vs AustraliaLocal: 5:10 p.m. SASTU.S.: 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PTU.K.: 4:10 p.m. BSTAUS: 1:10 p.m. AEST (Sun.) Argentina vs New ZealandLocal: 6:10 p.m. ARTU.S.: 5:10 p.m. ET / 2:10 p.m. PTU.K.: 10:10 p.m. BSTAUS: 7:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.) Saturday, September 6: Australia vs ArgentinaLocal: 2:30 p.m. AESTU.S.: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. PT (Fri.)U.K.: 3:30 a.m. BST New Zealand vs South AfricaLocal: 7:05 p.m. NZSTU.S.: 3:05 a.m. ET / 12:05 a.m. PTU.K.: 8:05 p.m. BSTAUS: 5:05 a.m. AEST Saturday, September 13: Australia vs ArgentinaLocal: 2 p.m. AESTU.S.: 10 p.m. ET (Fri.) / 7 p.m. PT (Fri.)U.K.: 3 a.m. BST New Zealand vs South AfricaLocal: 7:05 p.m. NZSTU.S.: 3:05 a.m. ET / 12:05 a.m. PTU.K.: 8:05 p.m. BSTAUS: 5:05 a.m. AEST Saturday, September 27: New Zealand vs AustraliaLocal: 5:05 p.m. NZSTU.S.: 1:05 a.m. ET / 10:05 p.m. PT (Fri.)U.K.: 6:05 a.m. BST South Africa vs ArgentinaLocal: 5:10 p.m. SASTU.S.: 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PTU.K.: 4:10 p.m. BSTAUS: 1:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.) Saturday, October 4: Australia vs New ZealandLocal: 5:45 p.m. AESTU.S.: 3:45 a.m. ET / 12:45 a.m. PTU.K.: 8:45 a.m. BST Argentina vs South AfricaLocal: 5:10 p.m. BST (venue: Twickenham, London, U.K.)U.S.: 12:10 p.m. ET / 9:10 a.m. PTAUS: 2:10 a.m. AEST (Sun.) 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.
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
World Rugby: Springboks' No 1 ranking under threat
World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for opening round of the Rugby Championship 2025 this weekend, and the Springboks – and their fans – will need to be on high alert. After remaining firmly ensconced at the top of the rankings this year, the Springboks will be fully aware that some close rivals are snapping at their heels. Permutations: ADVERTISEMENT South Africa's number one ranking is at threat if they do not beat Australia in The Rugby Championship 2025 opener in Johannesburg. A draw will mean that New Zealand have to beat Argentina later in the day to return to the summit for the first time since November 2021. Defeat for the Springboks will mean New Zealand only need a draw in Cordoba to leapfrog the Springboks. Ireland, in third, are not in action this weekend but can still benefit from the opening round of The Rugby Championship action if there are upsets. They could jump back to number one, albeit only if both South Africa and New Zealand lose by more than 15 points. If only one of these were to happen, Ireland will still climb a place to second above that beaten side. South Africa, though, will retain top spot if they beat Australia, despite the fact the world champions are unable to improve their rating due to the 10.70 points difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in. This is because New Zealand can only gain a maximum of 0.45 rating points for beating lower-ranked Argentina away and they currently trail South Africa by 0.72 points. Argentina will oust Australia from sixth place – which would be enough for a Band 1 place come the RWC 2027 draw in December – if Australia are beaten and they avoid defeat against New Zealand. A draw for Australia away to the world champions would have the same impact if Los Pumas are victorious over New Zealand for the first time on home soil. This scenario can also happen if Australia end their 14-year barren spell on South Africa soil, providing the Wallabies winning margin is less than 15 points and Argentina's is more than 15 points. Argentina cannot fall any lower than seventh this weekend even with a heavy loss to New Zealand, although only just as this would leave them only 0.04 rating points above Scotland in eighth. WORLD RANKINGS AS IT STANDS FOR THE SPRINGBOKS 1. South Africa 92.78 2. New Zealand 92.06 3. Ireland 89.83 4. France 87.82 5. England 87.64 6. Australia 82.08 7. Argentina 82.05 8. Scotland 81.57 9. Fiji 80.50 10. Italy 77.77 Do you think there is any reason for the Boks to be worried? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
