Rugby fans around the world are gearing up for another National Rugby League season, with matches on Mar. 1 to kick off the 2025 season. This season’s opening weekend will be held in Las Vegas for the second year in a row in an effort to broaden rugby’s appeal to U.S. audiences. The Rugby League Festival in Vegas features four matches all held on Saturday: A Super League match, a women’s international Test match, and two NRL matches, to be played at Allegiant Stadium.
At the festival. the NRL’s 2024 league champions the Penrith Panthers, will face the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Canberra Raiders play the New Zealand Warriors. These games are in addition to the rest of the NRL’s season openers happening in Australia and New Zealand, and they’ll be available to watch for free on Channel Nine in Australia. If you live in the U.S or anywhere else in the world, you’ll be able to watch these and the rest of this season’s matches with the help of a VPN. Here’s how you can catch all the rugby action this season for free.
Dates: March 1, 2025 – October, 2025
TV channel: Channel 9, Australia
Streaming: WatchNRL.com or 9Now via VPN
When is the National Rugby League season opener?
The first games of the National Rugby League’s 2025 season will take place on Saturday, Mar. 1. Two league matches, Penrith vs. Cronulla-Sutherland and the Canberra Raiders vs. New Zealand Warriors, will be played in Las Vegas, while the rest of the season opening matches will be played in Australia.
Who is competing in the National Rugby League?
The National Rugby League (NRL) is a professional rugby league with clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.
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Brisbane Broncos
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Canberra Raiders
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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
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Gold Coast Titans
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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
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Melbourne Storm
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North Queensland Cowboys
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Parramatta Eels
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Penrith Panthers
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St. George Illawarra Dragons
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Sydney Roosters
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Warriors
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Wests Tigers
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South Sydney Rabbitohs
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Newcastle Knights
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Dolphins
How to watch the National Rugby League in the USA without cable:
National Rugby League matches will be broadcast live throughout Australia for free on Channel Nine (streamable via 9Now.com). If you’re outside Australia you can still catch them with the help of a VPN.
How to stream the NRL from the U.S.
Live outside Australia but still want to watch the National Rugby League? For serious rugby fans, you can sign up for a subscription to watch NRL games on WatchNRL.com, a streaming platform that broadcasts major rugby matches live to international fans across the world. The only real problem there is the price, which starts at $24AUS (or $15 USD) for a week-to-week subscription. (A 12-month subscription makes a little more sense at $229AUS or $158USD which will let you watch every game throughout the year). For a more economical option, the solution is simple: You can tune into matches for free on 9Now.com with the help of a VPN.
A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the NRL, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
ExpressVPN offers “internet without borders,” meaning you can tune into Australian coverage of the NRL without taking a 24-hour flight to another hemisphere. All you’ll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location to one in Australia, and then find the free Channel Nine broadcast via 9Now.com.
ExpressVPN’s added protection, speed and range of location options make it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus, it’s Engadget’s top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 49% when they sign up for ExpressVPN’s 12-month subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.
How can I watch the Las Vegas Festival 2025 – Full schedule
All times ET
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March 1, 4.30pm: Super League – Wigan Warriors vs. Warrington Wolves
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March 1, 7 pm: NRL – Canberra Raiders vs. New Zealand Warriors
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March 1, 9 p.m.: Test Match – Australian Jillaroos vs England Women
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March 1, 11:30 p.m.: NRL – Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Shark
