US star Ilona Maher's arrival at Bristol Bears Women is set to draw more eyeballs to UK women's rugby's top flight – here's how to watch Premiership Women's Rugby online, on TV, and from anywhere.
Ilona Maher‘s blockbuster transfer to Bristol Bears Women has been met with a flurry of global excitement and has seen a spike in interest in how to watch Premiership Women’s Rugby, in the US especially.
The 28-year-old is a star of rugby sevens in the USA but as of January 2025 plies her trade in 15-a-side Rugby Union in the UK, as she eyes a spot in Team USA’s squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
– Watch Premiership Women’s Rugby: Discovery+ (UK & Ireland) | The Rugby Network (US)
It has now been confirmed that Ilona Maher will make her debut in Bristol Bears vs Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday, January 5. Such has been the demand for tickets since the transfer announcement, the fixture has been moved from the Bear’s usual home of Shaftesbury Park to Ashton Gate, the 27,000-seater stadium where the Bears’ men’s side play their games.
What it will do is get more people from around the world watching the PWR, arguably the best women’s rugby league in the world.
The demand for live tickets is expected to be matched by demand for television and live stream options. Read on for our guide on how to watch Premiership Women’s Rugby online, on TV, and from anywhere with a VPN.
Watch Premiership Women’s Rugby in the UK
In the UK, you can watch Premiership Women’s Rugby on TNT Sports and Discovery+, with one match per round selected for broadcast.
Both brands are controlled by Warner Bros. Discovery, with TNT being the television option and Discovery+ the online streaming platform for TNT Sports and Eurosport as well. The rights are exclusive, so this is the only place you can watch Premiership Women’s Rugby in the UK.
A subscription to Discovery+ Premium (which also gets you all matches from the men’s Premiership as well as a host of other sports) is priced at £30.99 per month. If you want to watch on TV, you can add TNT Sports to your existing TV package with the likes of Sky, BT, EE or Virgin Media TV package – costs vary by platform.
Can I watch Premiership Women’s Rugby in the US?
Fans in the US, who might now be looking to catch a glimpse of their national treasure over the pond, can watch select Premiership Women’s Rugby games via The Rugby Network.
This is a digital-only streaming service, with subscriptions costing $6.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
Are there any Premiership Women’s Rugby free live streams?
Yes, RugbyPassTV, the streaming platform owned by World Rugby, has the ability to broadcast certain games for free. This is not regular, but keep an eye on their schedule for any fixtures that crop up.
Note, the free streams on RugbyPassTV are often geo-restricted, with the UK and USA most often excluded.
Watch Premiership Women’s Rugby from anywhere
You can still watch Premiership Women’s Rugby live streams, even if you’re away home, thanks to the wonders of a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network – to give it its full name – is a handy piece of software that can set your IP address to make your device appear as if it’s in any location, so you can watch your usual streaming services even when you’re travelling – perfect for rugby fans on the move. It also comes with a host of internet security benefits, so it’s a winner all round.
We’re fortunate enough to share an office with technology experts TechRadar, and they reckon that NordVPN is the best VPN provider on the market right now.
Where to watch Ilona Maher in Premiership Women’s Rugby
Bristol Bears vs Gloucester-Hartpury on January 5 will be shown on TNT Sports / Discovery+ in the UK, The Rugby Network in the US, and for free on RugbyPassTV but only in certain territories.
Premiership Women’s Rugby Schedule: Round 12
Sat 4 Jan Trailfinders v Harlequins (3pm)
Sat 4 Jan Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks (5.50pm)
Sun 4 Jan Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury (12.45pm)
Sun 5 Jan Loughborough Lightning v Saracens (5.30pm)
Bye week Exeter Chiefs
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