After the best rugby streaming sites in the UK? Whether it’s league, union or sevens, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we look at the top live rugby streaming sites available in Britain right now. Some rugby streams you can access might even be free!
Best Rugby Streaming Sites UK List
According to SportsLens experts, thesse are the top 10 live rugby streaming sites out there in the UK right now:
- Bet365 – Best free rugby streaming sites today.
- Unibet – Great variety of live rugby streams online.
- BBC iPlayer – Free rugby streams if you have a TV Licence.
- Sky Sports – Subscription rugby league live streams and other codes.
- BT Sport – Best for rugby union streams today.
- NowTV – Rugby streams available without a contract.
- ESPN – Under the radar for rugby live streams.
- Betfred – Super League sponsors with rugby live streams.
- OurLeague – Best of dedicated rugby league streaming sites.
- Betfair – Live rugby streams online alongside sportsbook and exchange.
Best Rugby Streaming Sites Reviewed
Whether it’s specific rugby league live streaming sites or something more general, we know that you want to learn about the best in class. That is why our experts conducted detailed reviews of the top five from our list and table, so you can see what sets them apart. Read all about the best live rugby streaming sites in more detail below:
1. Bet365 – One of the Top Rugby Streaming Sites Free of Charge
There is no doubt that Bet365 are one of the big boys in the world of betting, but what about rugby league streams and rugby union streams? Well, they have a significant presence in Australia as well as the UK. It almost goes without saying that they are another rugby-mad nation. Free rugby streams are available and easy to spot. Next to any match that has them, you will find a play button icon.
What makes Bet365 great is that you only need to have a funded account, i.e. a positive bank balance, or placed a bet within the last 24 hours. It can be any wager, not necessarily a punt specific to the rugby match in question. This lack of any cost puts Bet365 among the best free streaming sites for rugby anywhere in the world today. Their video streaming quality is top notch too, even if there are more streams available elsewhere.
You can take your streaming experience mobile too, as Bet365 have one of the best betting apps for Android and iOS devices in the industry today. This streamlines the whole process of watching and betting on your favourite sports including rugby. The fact that Bet365 are active in multiple regions around the world only adds to their global presence. Their platform has to go down as one of the best free live rugby streaming sites on Planet Earth as a result.
What we like:
- Watch rugby streams free of charge
- Both league and union covered
- Great app for mobile viewing
- Top quality live rugby streams
What we don’t:
- More choice of rugby live streams elsewhere
2. Unibet – Great Variety of Live Rugby Streams Online
Through the magic of Unibet.tv, Unibet offers plenty of rugby league streams and rugby union streams throughout the season. Qualifying bets of £1 give you the right to watch the match that interests you. What is so impressive here are the regularly updated listings. Among the options available for rugby live streams are men’s and women’s international matches in both codes, the NRL and Super League, the Premiership, The Rugby Championship and French Top 14. These are some of the top competitions in Europe and Southern Hemisphere countries like Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Your betting account with Unibet is twinned with Unibet.tv, so they know if you have put on the qualifying bet that allows access or not. You can also filter the results of rugby league live streams or the same for union using the Select League sidebar menu. Alternatively, choose a date, search by source channel or toggle top games on and off depending on your interest. So much thought has gone into the live sports streaming service Unibet provides, then.
Another advantage is Unibet using a separate streaming sites platform. That means you access the betting on one server and then view the rugby match you wagered on live through another. This helps to protect the quality and integrity of your experience, as all that traffic from in-play betting isn’t slowing down the experience. It is something of a masterstroke from Unibet, who put 10 different sports channels where rugby may be broadcast at your fingertips.
What we like:
- Small qualifying bet of £1 per match
- Unibet.tv separate from sportsbook
- Up to 10 source channels for streams
- Filter listings by competition and date
What we don’t:
- Super Rugby missing from listings
3. BBC iPlayer – Free Rugby Streams if You Have a TV Licence
When it comes to international rugby, whatever the code, the BBC have plenty of broadcast rights for top competitions involving the Home Nations. That means BBC iPlayer has Six Nations and Rugby World Cup streams available whenever those tournaments take place. That goes for both men and women, and the same with rugby league internationals too. You can also follow provincial teams in Ireland and top clubs from Scotland and Wales in domestic rugby union competitions and in Europe.
As they are a national broadcaster, the BBC doesn’t cost you anything in addition to stream rugby, but you do pay for a TV Licence. It’s your choice whether to pay for this monthly or in one annual sum. Through iPlayer, you can also get access to extensive highlights of the Super League, while Scrum V is a similar show for rugby union. You can use this platform on smart TVs and mobile devices as well as desktop and laptop computers. The range of rugby live streams available includes selected Challenge Cup matches.
There are provincial provisions for BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Scotland and BBC Wales too. This allows people from those areas of the UK to follow top rugby teams for both club and country. Streaming quality can be affected by high viewing levels, so be aware a good internet connection helps. During the Olympic Games, iPlayer even has coverage of rugby sevens, so the BBC broadcasts the three major codes of rugby at specific times. If only there was more rugby on terrestrial TV, then this streaming service could score even higher.
What we like:
- National broadcaster streams UK rugby
- Six Nations & Rugby World Cup streams
- No additional charge besides TV Licence
- Rugby sevens plus league and union
What we don’t:
- More club rugby streams elsewhere
4. Sky Sports – Subscription Service Includes Live Rugby Streams
Although Sky Sports is a service you must pay a monthly fee for, it has been broadcasting major sports on live TV for 30 years now. From the heady days of satellite dishes on the sides of houses in the late 1980s and early 1990s to the digital revolution, rugby has played its part in the growth of this brand alongside the Premier League. All British and Irish Lions Tests are live on Sky Sports, while they also have broadcast rights for Super League and Super Rugby – top club competitions in their respective codes and hemispheres.
There isn’t a dedicated rugby channel like Sky Sports Football, so matches are often on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena, or a big game may get on Sky Sports Main Event. Sky do occasionally change the names of their channels up just to make their offering look fresh. The lack of a fixed permanent home for rugby live streams is a shame, but the wide variety of competitions on offer for the sport compensates for that somewhat.
There are eight dedicated TV streaming channels in all, yet rugby fans don’t need to bother paying for Sky Sports Racing, for example. This is one of the live horse racing streaming sites and channels, so only broadcasts that. Subscription costs start from £18 per month, but you do get so much more than rugby included in that. Viewing Sky Sports through a specific prism doesn’t consider that they are catering for general sports fan everywhere. Sky Go allows you to stream rugby live in HQ quality wherever you are, so has plenty going for it.
What we like:
- Sky Go great for live rugby streams
- Super League & Super Rugby games
- Good mix of club & internationals
- Home of British and Irish Lions
What we don’t:
- Monthly subscription fee from £18
5. BT Sport – Best for Rugby Union Streams Today
Sky’s great and recent rivals BT Sport broadcast English rugby union’s Premiership and are proud of it. That means there is the opportunity to get some live rugby streams online for that and the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup too. A subscription service that offers plenty more besides, the monthly cost is £25 making BT Sport more expensive than Sky Sports. You can take the streaming mobile, although Sky Go has a better reputation.
The concept with BT Sport was one provider for all products – internet, sports coverage and streaming together. This should make the experience as streamlined as possible, yet viewing quality can be affected by lots of people watching the same event. As with Sky, there is more to the package than simply rugby. Live football and cricket are also part of what’s on offer too.
There did used to be a more international flavour to BT Sport’s rugby union coverage, but they do offer all the major domestic and European competitions that fans of that code enjoy. If you like rugby league, then this probably isn’t for you but there are other services such as OurLeague that are worth looking at instead. BT Sport provides exclusive content, plus their regular Rugby Tonight show that discusses both domestic and international action.
What we like:
- Strong on rugby union streams
- Premiership matches available
- Champions & Challenge Cup
- Exclusive additional content
What we don’t:
- No good for rugby league streams
- Monthly subscription fee of £25
The Best Live Rugby Streaming Sites – Comparison Table
You can use the table below to compare the best free live rugby streaming sites with ones that you pay a subscription for. Some of these just so happen to be among the best betting sites in the UK today as well. Others are well-known sports broadcasters, but the one thing they have in common is live rugby streams packed full of tries, scrums and rucks:
| Rugby Streaming Sites or Bookie | Subscription Fee or Minimum Bet Needed |
 |
Funded account or placed a bet within the last 24 hours.* |
 |
£1 bet on the rugby match in question to qualify. |
 |
Pay the TV Licence fee and watch rugby streams free of charge. |
 |
From £18 per month. |
 |
From £25 per month. |
 |
£25 per month for six months, then £33.99 per month thereafter. |
 |
£9.99 per month or £69.99 per year. |
 |
£1 bet on the rugby match in question to qualify. |
 |
Membership fee TBD from 2022 onwards. |
 |
£1 bet on the rugby match in question to qualify. |
*Geo restrictions apply. Funded account or have placed a bet within 24 hours.
Rugby Streaming Sites Explained
So, why do live rugby streaming sites exist? There are a limited number of tickets available based on stadium capacities, so fans of the sport can’t always attend matches. If you follow the England national rugby union team, for example, Twickenham where they play their home matches is almost always sold out, so the next best thing is to watch the match on the screen.
The best rugby streaming sites make you feel like you’re there. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, live broadcasts of games straight to your digital device or smart TV allow you to see what’s happening. You may pay for a subscription service, or use online betting sites and free live rugby streaming sites to view the action through. These ensure that you don’t miss out when following your favourite rugby team.
What Live Rugby Streams Online Are There?
The sport of rugby has been split into different codes, much like horse racing, for a while now. Instead of jumps and Flat, there is rugby league and rugby union, not forgetting the relatively recent innovation of rugby sevens. The latter is an Olympic event and often targeted by younger players to aid their development.
When it comes to rugby streaming sites in the UK or anywhere for that matter, the top ones must cater for both league and union. BT Sport and OurLeague only focus on one code, so couldn’t be considered among the absolute best sites in class. This is because there are competitions both at club level and on an international scale for both. No free rugby streaming sites operating legally give you access to them all, so think carefully about the rugby matches you enjoy.
With that in mind, here are the most popular rugby competitions you can stream online:
Rugby League Live Streams by Competition
- Australian NRL
- English Challenge Cup
- International Test matches
- RFL Championship
- Rugby League World Cup
- State of Origin Series
- Super League – including Magic Weekend and Grand Final
- World Club Challenge
Leading online bookmakers Betfred sponsor both rugby league’s Super League and the Challenge Cup, so have a strong association with this code of the sport.
Rugby Union Streams by Competition
- British and Irish Lions Tours and Tests
- EPCR Challenge Cup
- French Top 14
- Gallagher Premiership
- Heineken Champions Cup
- International Test matches
- Premiership Rugby Cup
- Rugby World Cup
- Six Nations Championship
- The Rugby Championship (Southern Hemisphere)
- Super Rugby Pacific
- United Rugby Championship
There are more major competitions in rugby union than rugby league, and this reflects the wider appeal of the code outside of Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Among the best rugby streaming sites available right now, remember there are some online bookies:
- Bet365
- Unibet
- Betfred
Are There Any Free Rugby Streaming Sites?
Everyone is after free live rugby streaming sites so they don’t have to pay to watch the action, but do these exist? They are few and far between, in terms of legal platforms. There are a very small number of free rugby streaming sites available, though. There may not always be the greatest amount of choice or variety in what you can watch on them either.
Rugby Live Streams on Betting Sites
Rugby streaming sites free of charge are the most desirable, but a good second best could be using online bookmakers. The advantage with these is that most only want you to place a £1 bet to stream the action. Ideally, you would use one of the best free rugby streaming sites over anything with a subscription service or that charges you. Compared to paying out for a month’s viewing at £18, £25 or even more, betting with the bookies could make more sense.
We’re not talking about new betting sites here either but the established bookmakers. These are far more likely to offer live rugby streams online than brands you haven’t heard of. It is no surprise that leading firms for streaming include Bet365, Unibet and Betfred – something SportsLens experts have highlighted consistently on this topic. Make rugby union and rugby league live streaming sites work for you, and why not have a wager or two while you’re about it?
How to Find the Best Streaming Sites Rugby Fans Use
There is plenty to ponder when thinking about which rugby streaming sites are best. We asked the SportsLens experts for their key criteria and these are their observations:
- Number of Rugby Matches Shown
The best free streaming sites for rugby put as many live games as possible at your fingertips. If, alternatively, you pay for a subscription service, then both quantity and quality become important. - Competitions Available
Rugby league streaming sites only cover one code. If that’s all you’re interested in, then that’s fine, but there will only be related competitions. The best rugby streaming sites have both league and union covered. - Fees and Costs
If you don’t have to pay anything and can use one of the free live rugby streaming sites, then great. Many watch the matches through subscription services, however, and these need to offer value for money. - Quality of Streams
You need streams that don’t cut out on you at key moments. There is nothing worse than missing an exciting passage of play or a try due to buffering. Stream quality is vital, so that you get the best visual experience possible. - Mobile Experience
It’s thanks to the development of technology that we can now stream our favourite sports to our smartphones and tablets. A good mobile experience is thus important for viewing when you’re out and about.
How to Use Rugby Live Streams
Not all bookmakers are rugby streaming sites, but Unibet has a particularly good selection of both codes through Unibet.tv. Get access to the rugby union and rugby league live streams by following these simple steps:
There is a gold coloured Register button on the top of the Unibet.co.uk homepage. Hitting this brings up the registration from that all new customers must fill in with their personal details. If you already have a betting account with Unibet, then you can skip the next couple of steps.
Once you’ve completed the registration form, then you must make a deposit. You want to make sure this is via an eligible method for any free bets and offers Unibet may have. You may also be asked to verify your identity, so this online bookmaker knows it’s really you.
Now place a qualifying bet. In our example below, we’re backing Scotland in the handicap market to beat Tonga. The minimum stake to access the live streams is £1.
Conclusion
And that’s all she wrote. Live rugby streaming sites would be awesome if they were all free, like all the best things in life. Precious few tick this box, though, so never rule out the possibility of using a betting site to stream your favourite rugby club or team.
