Rugby season is finally upon us, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to plan how you’re going to watch the NRL live online. But learning how to watch the NRL in the USA gets complicated if you’re not in Australia, New Zealand, or the Pacific Islands — thanks to geo-restrictions that quickly make a mess of what should be a simple (and enjoyable) viewing experience.

That’s where a VPN comes in. By connecting to a server in one of these countries, you’ll be able to watch the NRL live online as if you were there. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the best VPNs for watching the NRL so you can confidently make your decision. In a rush? If the game is starting as you’re reading this and you’re looking for a quick answer, check out ExpressVPN now.

After an in-depth analysis, we’ve concluded that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for watching NRL, as it offers high-speed servers in Australia and worldwide. With the 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it risk-free now. Or check out our list below for other VPNs that might be just what you’re looking for.

How to Watch NRL from Anywhere? Use a VPN

VPNs work like a charm when it comes to unblocking geo-restricted content. All you need is a VPN app and an active internet connection to get started. Here’s how you can use ExpressVPN to watch NRL live online from anywhere:

Step 1 — Download and Install ExpressVPN on Your Device

We highly recommend the renowned ExpressVPN for the job, as it offers high-speed servers in Australia and other major countries.

Downloading ExpressVPN

Step 2 — Open the VPN App and Sign in With Your Credentials

You can install ExpressVPN on SmartTVs, iOS, Mac, Android, Windows, Linux, and so much more.

ExpressVPN on all devices netflix

Step 3 — Connect to a Server

By connecting to a server in popular NRL countries, like the UK and Australia, you can stream the NRL live anywhere in the world.

Connecting with ExpressVPN

Step 4 — Visit the NRL Website or Use the NRL App

You’ll now be able to watch the NRL live online. On a final note, you can also use a VPN to stream NRL on Kayo Sports and WatchNRL. Simply connect to a server in UK or France, and you’ll be able to access these platforms.

The Best VPNs for Streaming Rugby League

  1. ExpressVPN — Our top VPN for watching NRL online| Offers high-speed connections in 94 countries – try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. NordVPN— The best mid-tier VPN for streaming NRL | Enjoy hassle-free sports streaming with its high-speed servers in 60+ countries.
  3. Private Internet Access —The best cheap VPN for watching NRL live | Supports 10 devices + boasts a whopping 39,500+ servers in 84 countries.
  4. Surfshark — A versatile VPN for an affordable price | Supports unlimited device connections + 3,000+ servers in 100+ countries.
  5. PrivateVPN —A great value VPN for streaming NRL | Offers 100+ servers in 63+ countries for decent speeds for live streaming.
  6. PrivadoVPN — The best free VPN for streaming NRL | Provides premium security and good speeds with servers in 47+ countries.

The Best VPNs for Streaming Rugby League | In-Depth Reviews

To compile this comprehensive guide, our team of sports fans did an in-depth review of the pros and cons of each VPN, their prices, money-back guarantees, average speeds, and more. And to give you an even more complete picture, we added a table at the end of each section so you can easily pick the best VPN for you.

1. ExpressVPN —Reliable VPN for Streaming Live NRL Matches

ExpressVPN holds a phenomenal reputation in terms of reliability, and with over 3,000 servers, you’re guaranteed consistent connections for streaming Rugby League content.

ExpressVPN server connection | Perfect for watching NRL live
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
$8.32/month for 1 Year $8.32/month No 30-day 5 Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web extensions 3,000+ 94+

Pros:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Fast and reliable servers
  • Own protocol (Lightway) for speed and security
  • User-friendly apps for all devices
  • Automatic server selection

Cons:

  • A bit more expensive than some other providers
  • Not great for torrenting

If you’re looking for how to watch NRL overseas with no interruptions or headaches, ExpressVPN is an excellent bet. Moreover, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re unhappy with the service, you can always get your money back.

And since it supports all major devices and platforms, from Windows and Mac to iOS and Android, you can use it on just about any device. However, what separates ExpressVPN from other providers is its speed and reliability, two essential factors when streaming live sports.

It uses its own protocol, Lightway, which is designed to be one of the most secure and a big reason why ExpressVPN is renowned for being one of the fastest VPNs in the market. So you can rest assured that your connection won’t drop in the middle of a game.

Unlike other VPNs, ExpressVPN lets you simply choose a location, connect, and start streaming. You don’t need to mess around with any settings or configurations. Too often, other VPNs run into trouble due to oversubscription to a certain server. This makes it hard to find a working connection. With ExpressVPN, the system will look for the best server for you and connect automatically.

Pricing:

ExpressVPN's pricing

Despite being one of the best-performing VPNs, ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest. But it’s worth every penny, considering your service quality. You can get it for as low as $8.32/month, which will be billed annually, saving you 35% on your subscription.

Or, if you want to try it out first, you can go with the monthly plan, which costs $12.95 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. NordVPN — The best mid-tier VPN for streaming NRL

NordVPN is a wildly popular VPN that offers fast and reliable speeds with little to no buffering, making it the perfect choice for streaming live rugby action.

NordVPN's servers | Best VPN for streaming NRL sports
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
$3.69/month — 2-year plan $4.99/month No 30-day 6 Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Extensions 5,500+

59+

Pros:

  • Fast and stable speeds
  • A large network of servers in many countries
  • Unlimited bandwidth and data
  • Allows up to six connections

Cons:

  • The mobile app connection needs work
  • Complicated OpenVPN setup

NordVPN has an extensive network of servers in many countries, including Australia, where the NRL is based. This means you can connect to a server Down Under and enjoy uninterrupted streaming of your favorite team in action. Moreover, NordVPN doesn’t throttle your bandwidth or data, so you can stream as much rugby as you want.

This VPN also allows up to six simultaneous connections so that you can protect all your devices with one account. And if you run into any trouble, NordVPN’s 24/7 customer support is always there to help.

NordVPN has surpassed all of our expectations when it comes to performance. You can easily and comfortably watch 2k and 4k HD videos anytime, thanks to the massive farm of servers that NordVPN possesses (1,970 in the US, to be exact). This and its industry-leading NordLynx protocol make it one of the best-performing VPNs on the market.

On a final note, the software is incredibly user-friendly and easy to install on any device. The sleek design of the apps is also a huge plus. Overall, we’re confident that NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming NRL this season.

Pricing:

NordVPN's pricing

For as little as $3.69/month (billed every 2 years), you can now watch the NRL live and in HD with NordVPN. The annual plans start at $4.99 per month, and the monthly plan costs $11.99 per month.

Each of these plans includes Malware protection–NordVPN’s CyberSec feature–as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. This makes NordVPN one of the fastest VPNs with the best anti-virus software.

3. Private Internet Access — Most Affordable VPN for Streaming NRL

Private Internet Access is incredibly popular—thanks to its phenomenal speeds (and the staggering 39,500+ servers), reliability, and, of course, the reasonable price tags that come with it all. If you’re looking to stream the NRL live, PIA is an affordable option worthy of consideration.

Connecting with Private Internet Access | Stream NRL from anywhere
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
$2.03/month for 3 years + 3 months $3.33/month No 30-day 10 Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web extensions 29,500+ 84+

Pros:

  • Great speed because of WireGuard
  • Excellent for torrenting
  • Offers by far the largest server fleet
  • Incredibly budget-friendly
  • Different encryption options

Cons:

  • No live chat support
  • No app whitelisting

With 29,500+ servers, it’s no surprise that you’ll find ample servers in Australia, NZ, and the Pacific Islands, so finding suitable ones to connect to the NRL live stream will be a breeze with PIA.

With an annual subscription costing just $2.03/month, PIA is one of the most affordable VPNs available. It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, with excellent speeds across various server locations. Plus, it’s compatible with all major streaming platforms, including NRL Live Pass.

It uses industry-standard, WireGuard protocol for its VPN connections, which is known for being both fast and secure. In fact, more and more VPN providers are using this protocol, as despite being fairly new, it’s lightweight, quick, and simply unbeatable.

Besides all this, PIA also has a strict no-logs policy alongside all leading security measures so you can be sure your NRL live stream activity will remain confidential.

Overall, PIA is an excellent choice for NRL live streaming. It’s one of the best VPNs on the market and it offers fast speeds at an incredibly low price point.

Pricing:

Private Internet Access' pricing

As mentioned earlier, PIA is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market today. For only $2.03/month for 3 years (plus 3 months free), you can enjoy the benefits of this VPN — risk-free, in fact, with the generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Surfshark — Versatile VPN for an Affordable Price

Surfshark VPN is a solid choice if you’re after a low-cost VPN that offers plenty of features and versatility. Plus, it has apps for all popular platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Kodi, Firestick, MacOS, and many more.

Surfshark's interface | Live stream NRL on all your devices
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
$2.30/month — 2-year plan $3.99/month 7-day mobile trial 30-day Unlimited Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Extensions 3,200+

100+

Pros:

  • Unlimited device connections
  • AES-256-GCM encryption
  • Perfect forward secrecy
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 7-day free trial (mobile apps only)

Cons:

  • Not ideal for torrenting
  • Unresponsive customer service

With unlimited device connections and a decent distribution of servers, you can use Surfshark VPN to unblock NRL live streams from anywhere in the world, on any (or all) of your devices. This makes it a phenomenal option for families.

Surfshark also has a huge network for a relatively young service provider, which many VPN service providers haven’t accomplished even after years in the industry.

Needless to say, Surfshark’s servers are powerful and can manage all the services and protocols the VPN provides. You’ll get access to fast servers in 100+ countries, which should be more than enough to unblock NRL live streams from anywhere.

On top of this, Surfshark VPN uses strong AES-256-GCM encryption with perfect forward secrecy. This means your traffic is always secure and private, even if someone manages to get their hands on your Surfshark VPN credentials.

Overall, Surfshark is a great provider with plenty of features and functionality, especially for the price. You can check out our comparison review of Surfshark and ExpressVPN here to see which one fits your needs best.

Pricing:

The cheapest plan starts at just $2.30/month for 2 years. This makes it one of the cheapest VPN options on the market — especially considering that it has a built-in ad blocker, can connect unlimited devices, and provides access to 3,200+ servers in over 100 countries.

This provider also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free, plus there’s a generous free trial that allows you to test all its features for 7 days using your mobile app.

5. PrivateVPN — Newcomer but Solid VPN for Streaming NRL

PrivateVPN is a new provider on the VPN scene, but it’s already making waves with its fast speeds and robust security. It’s an excellent choice for streaming NRL, as it can unblock many popular streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more.

PrivateVPN interface | Stream NRL live
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
$2/month — 3-year plan $6/month 7-day 30-day 10 PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Kodi 200+ 63+

Pros:

  • Fast speeds
  • Affordable plans
  • Allows P2P traffic
  • Different options for encryptions
  • Linux-friendly

Cons:

  • Small server network
  • No split tunneling

PrivateVPN is also one of the few VPNs that can bypass the Great Firewall of China, making it a good option for fans of the NRL who are based in China or other areas with strict geo-restrictions.

Besides this, PrivateVPN’s speeds are also some of the best we’ve seen, and it has a strong network of servers in over 60 countries. This means that you’re unlikely to experience any buffering or lag when streaming NRL matches.

To sweeten the deal, PrivateVPN is also one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, with plans starting at just $2.00/month for a two-year subscription. And there’s more. If you’re a fan of NRL and using Linux, PrivateVPN is certainly a top choice as it’s one of the best VPNs for Linux systems.

Because it allows P2P traffic, PrivateVPN is also suitable for torrenting. You must establish a connection to Dedicated IP/Torrenting servers to use it with torrenting clients to download files. However, due to the server capacity, it’s not advisable to use this feature all the time as it may result in slower speeds.

Pricing:

PrivateVPN pricing

PrivateVPN’s cheapest plan is $2.00/month for a 2-year subscription. Plus, as with all the best VPN apps, PrivateVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free.

6. PrivadoVPN — Top Free VPN for Streaming NRL

PrivadoVPN is the best option if you want to know how to watch NRL overseas for free. This provider has servers in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, so you can access any content you want from anywhere in the world.

PrivadoVPN's interface | Best free VPN to live stream NRL sports
Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
Free $4.99/month Yes 30-day 10 Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick 346+ 47+

Pros:

  • Free forever
  • Allows torrenting
  • Works with Netflix
  • Based in Panama (no data retention laws)

Cons:

  • Data limit of 10GB per month
  • Limited server network

Despite being free, the speed is decent, and you can still stream NRL live without any issues. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the data limit of 10GB per month.

Based on some tests, it offers an average of 50Mbps download and upload speeds, and the server response time is also good, around 160ms.

To use PrivadoVPN, you must create an account and download the client. After that, you can connect to any of the available servers — next, simply open your browser and go to NRL Live Pass. You should be able to stream any NRL match with decent speed.

Pricing:

PrivadoVPN's pricing

If you’re after unlimited data, covering up to 10 devices, and access to all PrivadoVPN’s servers in 60+ cities, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan. The paid plans are competitively priced, so whether you’re after a free or cheap VPN service, PrivadoVPN is a worthy contender.

Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch the Rugby League?

Yes, but the best free VPNs for streaming Rugby League are limited in data (and often speed) when compared to paid versions. If you want to watch the Rugby League without limits, we’d highly recommend using a paid VPN service such as NordVPN.

Paid VPN services offer unlimited data, speeds, and full access to their servers, so you can stream the Rugby League live without any buffering or interruptions. They also offer military-grade encryption to keep your data safe from hackers and government surveillance.

Best VPNs to Watch NRL Comparison Table

Take a peek at the table below to see our head-to-head comparison of the best VPNs for streaming NRL:

VPN Providers Cheapest Plan Annual Plan Free Version Money-Back Guarantee Max Devices Supported Compatibility Server Count Server Locations
ExpressVPN $8.32/month for 1 year $8.32/month No 30-day 5 Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web extensions 3,000+ 94+
NordVPN $3.69/month for a 2-year plan $4.99/month No 30-day 6 Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Extensions 5,500+ 59+
Private Internet Access $2.03/month for 3 years + 3 months $3.33/month No 30-day 10 Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web extensions 29,500+ 84+
Surfshark $2.49/month for 2-year plan $3.99/month 7-day mobile trial 30-day Unlimited Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Extensions 3,200+ 100+
PrivateVPN $2/month for 3-year plan $6/month 7-day 30-day 10 PC, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Kodi 200+ 63+
PrivadoVPN Free $4.99/month Yes 30-day 10 Windows, Android, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick 346+ 47+

The Best Free Rugby Channels

Countries like the UK, France, and Australia offer free live channels to watch Rugby League. You can use a VPN to connect to any of these countries and stream the Rugby League live for free. Here are some of the best free Rugby channels:

  • BBC iPlayer (UK)
  • TF1 (France)
  • Channel 9 (Australia)
  • Fox League (Australia)
  • Sky Sports (UK)
  • BeIN (France)

Some channels don’t broadcast all NRL streams/matches. You’ll need to check the schedule for your desired channel to find out which games they’ll be broadcasting. However, all significant channels will broadcast the Finals Series and Grand Finals.

The Best Paid Rugby Streaming Channels

In most cases, the best way to watch Rugby League is through a paid channel. This is because they offer higher-quality streams and dedicated support in case you experience any issues. Here are some of the best-paid channels for streaming NRL:

  • Kayo Sports (Australia)
  • WatchNRL (Global)
  • Foxtel Now (Australia)
  • Sky Go (UK)
  • Virgin Media Player (Ireland)
  • YuppTV (Global)
  • RugbyPass (Asia, Australia, and Europe)
  • NBC (United States)
  • Rede Globo (Brazil)
  • NTV Plus (Russia)

Sports Streaming VPN FAQs

How to unblock Livestream NRL in Australia using a VPN?

Can you watch sports for free with a VPN?

Where can I watch rugby matches online?

What is a VPN?

Conclusion — What’s the Best VPN to Watch NRL?

A rugby fan like you should never have to miss a match. These top six VPNs will let you stream NRL live, no matter where you are. These VPNs offer high speeds, strong security, and dedicated support:

  1. ExpressVPN — Our top VPN for watching NRL online| Offers high-speed connections in 94 countries – try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. NordVPN— The best mid-tier VPN for streaming NRL | Enjoy hassle-free sports streaming with its high-speed servers in 60+ countries.
  3. Private Internet Access —The best cheap VPN for watching NRL live | Supports 10 devices + boasts a whopping 39,500+ servers in 84 countries.
  4. Surfshark — A versatile VPN for an affordable price | Supports unlimited device connections + 3,000+ servers in 100+ countries.
  5. PrivateVPN —A great value VPN for streaming NRL | Offers 100+ servers in 63+ countries for decent speeds for live streaming.
  6. PrivadoVPN — The best free VPN for streaming NRL | Provides premium security and good speeds with servers in 47+ countries.

If you’re still undecided, let us help you pick. ExpressVPN comes out on top as the best VPN for streaming NRL. It’s a fast and reliable VPN that can unblock any channel you need. Plus, it’s easy to use with dedicated apps for all major platforms. Try it now for a full month, completely risk-free with a 3-day money-back guarantee.