Watch Ireland v Italy as Andy Farrell’s side look to get their Six Nations 2026 back on track after last week’s comprehensive defeat in Paris.
Ireland may have some big names ruled out with injury, but they’d have hoped for better than that 36-14 loss to France. There’s a feeling the men in green have slipped behind the championship’s biggest hitters, so they’ll be looking to lay down a marker when the Azzurri land in Dublin.
The trouble is, Italy are now much harder to beat than they used to be. Although Ireland haven’t lost to the visitors since 2013, Italy’s impressive victory over Scotland in Rome last weekend will have made them take notice. Ireland will go into the game as favourites, but a defeat would no longer be a massive shock.
The match kicks off at 2.10pm GMT, and you can watch Ireland v Italy live streams for free in the UK, Ireland and France – keep reading to find out how to tune in wherever you are in the world.
Ireland v Italy: In brief
– Date: Saturday 14 February 2026
– Kick-off time: 2.10pm GMT (local) / 3.10pm CET / 9.10am ET / 4.10pm SAST / 1.10am AEDT (Sunday)
– Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
– FREE Streams: ITVX (free), Virgin Media Play (free), TF1+ (free)
– TV Channels: ITV1 (UK), Virgin Media One (Ireland), TF1 (France)
– Watch anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free (£50 Amazon Gift Card included)
How to stream Ireland v Italy for free in the UK
All Ireland home games are available for for free on terrestrial channel ITV1 and streaming service ITVX in the UK. Coverage for the weekend’s opening Six Nations match starts at 1.00pm GMT ahead of the 2.10pm kick-off.
While ITVX is free to use, you will need to complete a simple sign-up process to access the service. You also need an up-to-date TV Licence to stream live TV in the UK.
Saturday’s later game, Scotland v England, is also available via ITV, and kicks off at 4.40pm GMT.
Travelling outside the UK right now? You could use a VPN to access your usual stream — keep reading to find out more.
Stream Ireland v Italy from anywhere
Being abroad doesn’t have to stop you from watching this weekend’s rugby action. A VPN bypasses geo-blocking by changing your IP address, letting you stream Six Nations 2026 matches as if you were at home. NordVPN is our favourite and rated as the #1 VPN by our colleagues at TechRadar.
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Free Ireland v Italy live streams in Ireland
Rugby fans in Ireland can watch can watch free Ireland v Italy live streams on Virgin Media Play or – if traditional TV aerials are more your thing – terrestrial TV channel Virgin Media One.
Pre-match build-up starts at 1.30pm GMT, ahead of the 2.10pm kick-off.
You’ll also need to stick with Virgin Media to to watch Saturday’s second match, Scotland v England, which kicks off at 4.40pm GMT.
Watch Ireland v Italy for free in France
Rugby fans in France can watch Ireland v Italy live streams on TF1 and its TF1+ streaming service. Both options are free.
Coverage of Ireland v Italy starts at 3.00pm CET ahead of the 3.10pm kick-off.
French fans who are away from home but want to tune in with their usual French language commentary can still access their TF1 coverage from abroad by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Other viewing options around the world
United States: You can watch every Six Nations 2026 match on NBC’s Peacock streaming service. You’ll need the Premium option, for which prices start at $10.99 per month. Kick-off is 9.10am ET / 6.10am PT on Saturday morning.
Australia: Stan Sport is the destination for Aussie rugby fans looking for Ireland v Italy streams. You’ll need a base Stan subscription (monthly fees start at $12 per month) plus $20 per month to watch Stan Sport. Tuning in will require a late night, however, as kick-off is 1.10am AEDT on Sunday morning.
New Zealand: Kiwi fans can watch Ireland v Italy on Sky Sport, which costs $54.99 per month for a streaming subscription. Kick-off is 3.10am NZDT on Sunday morning, so you’ll need to decide whether to stay up very late or get up very early.
South Africa: Head to SuperSport to watch Ireland v Italy in South Africa. The match gets underway at 4.10pm SAST on Saturday afternoon.
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