How to Watch Premiership Rugby for Free in 2025

If you’re a rugby fan in the UK or abroad, you’ve probably asked yourself: Premiership Rugby for free? The short answer is yes - but not the way you might think. You won’t find official broadcasts for free on platforms like Netflix or YouTube. But there are legal, reliable, and completely free ways to catch live matches, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content - if you know where to look.

Understand What’s Actually Free

Premiership Rugby is a professional league. Broadcast rights are sold to major networks like TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. That means live matches usually require a paid subscription. But free access isn’t impossible. It just comes in different forms: delayed replays, highlights, social media clips, and public broadcasts of select games.

Most free options won’t give you live action from kickoff. But if you’re okay with watching a match a few hours after it ends - or catching the best moments - you’re in luck. The key is knowing where to find official free content, not pirated streams.

Use the Official Premiership Rugby Website and App

The Premiership Rugby website and its official app are your best starting point. They don’t stream full matches for free, but they do offer something valuable: free match highlights for every game, posted within 24 hours of the final whistle.

Each highlight package includes tries, key tackles, coaching insights, and post-match interviews. You can watch them on mobile, tablet, or desktop. The app also pushes notifications when new highlights drop, so you never miss the big plays. For fans who can’t watch live, this is the closest thing to being there without paying.

Check Free-to-Air TV for Select Matches

Every season, Premiership Rugby signs deals to broadcast a few games on free-to-air TV. In 2025, ITV still holds the rights to show one match per round - usually on Saturday afternoons. These are often high-profile fixtures: Saracens vs. Bath, Exeter Chiefs vs. Leicester Tigers, or the big London derbies.

You don’t need a subscription. Just tune in on your TV or stream it via the ITVX app. The app works on smart TVs, Fire Stick, Roku, and even phones. It’s ad-supported, but the quality is HD, and the commentary is top-tier. Keep an eye on the Premiership Rugby fixture list - they mark which games are on ITV with a special icon.

Follow Clubs on Social Media

Your favorite club’s social channels are goldmines for free rugby content. Teams like Leicester Tigers, Wasps, and Gloucester Rugby regularly post:

• 5- to 10-minute match recaps
• Player interviews after games
• Behind-the-scenes training clips
• Interactive polls and fan Q&As

YouTube channels like Exeter Chiefs TV or Saracens FC upload full match highlights within hours. Some clubs even stream pre-match warm-ups or post-match press conferences live on Facebook or Instagram - no login needed.

Turn on notifications for your club’s official accounts. That way, you’ll get alerts the second something new drops. You won’t get live action, but you’ll get the drama, the emotion, and the key moments - all for free.

Use Free Trials of Streaming Services

If you’re willing to give a service a short trial, you can watch live matches with zero cost. TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video both offer 7-day free trials. You can sign up, watch one or two matches live, then cancel before the trial ends.

Here’s how to do it right:

1. Find which platform is broadcasting your next match (check the Premiership Rugby fixture schedule).
2. Sign up for the free trial using a valid email and payment method.
3. Watch the game live - record it if allowed.
4. Cancel before the trial ends. Most services let you cancel with one click.

Many fans rotate between services each month. One month, you use TNT. Next month, you use Prime. It’s not permanent, but it’s legal and gets you live rugby without a monthly bill.

Join a Local Rugby Club or Fan Group

This one’s often overlooked. Many local rugby clubs host viewing parties for Premiership games. They rent out a pub, buy snacks, and set up a big screen. You pay for your drink, not the game.

These gatherings are common in cities like London, Bristol, and Leeds. Check your local club’s Facebook page or website. Even if you don’t play, you can usually join as a fan. You’ll get the full match experience - crowd noise, banter, and real-time reactions - all for the price of a pint.

Use Public Broadcasts in Bars and Pubs

Some pubs in the UK have licenses to show live sports. If you’re out for dinner or drinks on a match day, ask if they’re showing the game. Many do - especially in rugby hotspots like Bath, Worcester, or Newcastle.

You don’t need to buy a full meal. Just order a drink and sit near the screen. It’s a social way to watch without paying for a subscription. Plus, you get to celebrate tries with strangers who know exactly how you feel.

What NOT to Do

Avoid illegal streaming sites. They’re risky. Many carry malware, pop-up ads that lock your browser, or even phishing scams. Worse, they often cut out during key moments - like a last-minute try - leaving you frustrated.

Also, don’t trust YouTube channels that claim to stream full matches live. Most are just re-uploading clips from official sources, and they get taken down fast. You’ll waste time refreshing pages instead of watching the game.

Plan Ahead for the Season

The Premiership Rugby season runs from September to June. Each round has 4-5 matches. Plan your free viewing strategy before the season starts:

• Mark which games are on ITV (free TV)
• Sign up for free trials before your top 2-3 matches
• Follow 3-4 club social media accounts for daily highlights
• Join one local viewing group

With this mix, you’ll see every major moment - tries, conversions, red cards - without spending a penny.

Why Free Isn’t Always Live

Let’s be honest: free rugby isn’t the same as live. You won’t feel the tension of a last-minute penalty kick the same way if you’re watching it 12 hours later. But if your goal is to stay connected, follow your team, and enjoy the sport - free options deliver.

Professional rugby is expensive to produce. Broadcasters pay millions for rights. Free content exists because clubs and the league want fans to stay engaged. They’re not trying to hide the game - they’re just asking you to support it in ways that work for them.

So watch the highlights. Join the pub crowd. Use the free trial. Follow the clubs. You’ll never miss a big moment - and you’ll save hundreds every year.