How to watch New Zealand v Italy for FREE: Stream weekend’s opening Nations Championship encounter

Can the Azzurri secure their first ever victory over the All Blacks?

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Watch New Zealand v Italy as the second round of the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off in Wellington. The two sides had very different starts to their campaigns, the All Blacks securing a narrow victory over France, the Azzurri losing to Japan. Italy have never beaten today’s hosts – if they can defy the odds and win in New Zealand, it would arguably be one of the biggest shocks in the history of the game.

– Date: Saturday 11 July, 2026

– Kick-off time: 6.10am BST / 7.10am CET / 7.10am SAST / 3.10pm AEST / 5.10pm NZST / 1.10am EDT / 10.10pm PDT (Friday)

– FREE STREAMS: ITVX (UK), Virgin Media Play (Ireland), TF1+ (France)

– Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free

You can watch All Blacks v Italy live streams for free in the UK, Ireland and France. Read on to find out how to tune in to the game, wherever you are on planet Earth – including details of how you can use a VPN to watch from anywhere.

You’ll find a preview and team news at the end of the article.

Read more: Confused by rugby’s newest international tournament? Here are all your Nations Championship questions answered

How to watch All Blacks v Italy for free

Looking to watch New Zealand taking on the Azzurri for free? There are several options available.

  • United Kingdom: New Zealand v Italy is available on both terrestrial channel ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service.  Both options are free to use but remember that you need a current TV Licence to watch/stream live television in the UK. You’d better set that alarm clock, though, because the pre-match build-up starts at 6.00am BST, with kick-off at 6.10am.
  • Ireland: Rugby fans in Ireland can watch this Wellington clash for free on Virgin Media Play and terrestrial channel Virgin Media One. The broadcast starts at 6.00am IST, before the game gets underway at 6.10am.
  • France: All Blacks v Italy live streams are available for free on both the TF1+ streaming service and broadcast channel TF1. Coverage gets underway at 7.00am CET, with kick-off at 7.10am.
  • United States: In the States? You can watch New Zealand v Italy, along with all the Nations Championship games, on World Rugby’s RugbyPass TV. It’s free to use, though you do need to register before you can start streaming the action. Kick-off is at 1.10am EDT (Saturday morning) /10.10am PDT (Friday night).

Travelling overseas this weekend? Residents of the UK, Ireland, France and the US can still watch their usual free streaming service with the help of a good VPN. Keep reading to find out more…

Stream New Zealand v Italy from anywhere

Being abroad today doesn’t have to ruin your rugby viewing plans. Using a VPN is a smart way to avoid the geo-blocking restrictions that my prevent you from tuning in to All Blacks v Italy when you’re overseas. There are plenty of good VPNs you can buy, but the tech experts at TechRadar reckon NordVPN is currently the best on the market.

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More ways to watch All Blacks v Italy

  • New Zealand: All Blacks v Italy is on Sky Sport, which costs $54.99 per month for a streaming subscription ($29.99 day options are also available). Kick-off is 5.10pm NZST this evening.
  • Australia: Stan Sport is the place to go for New Zealand v Italy live streams down under. You’ll need a $20 per month Stan Sport plan (in addition to your base Stan subscription) to tune in. The game gets underway at 3.10pm AEST this afternoon.
  • South Africa: SuperSport will be your destination for All Blacks v Italy live streams in South Africa, and is available via DStv and streaming. The match gets underway at 7.10am SAST this morning.

New Zealand v Italy match preview

New New Zealand boss Dave Rennie got off to a winning start last weekend, with a narrow 34-32 victory in a scintillating, all-action encounter at Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium. Now the All Blacks roadshow moves to Wellington, with a very different contest on the cards.

Italy, ranked 10th in the world, have never beaten the All Blacks, and it would be one of the rugby headlines of the decade if they come away with anything. Their preparation for this match was also far from ideal, having  lost 27-10 to Japan in Tokyo last weekend.

Rennie has made five changes to the starting XV that defeated Les Bleus. In the backs, Billy Proctor resumes his centre partnership with Jordie Barrett, replacing Quinn Tupaea, while Leroy Carter comes in for Caleb Clarke on the wing. Up front, Tyrel Lomax replaces Fletcher Newell to win his 50th All Blacks cap, while Tupou Vaa’i and Wallace Sititi come in to the second and back row, respectively.

Azzurri boss Gonzalo Quesada, meanwhile, has made three changes to the side defeated in Japan. He’s clearly hoping for improvements in attack (the 10 points Italy scored in Tokyo was the lowest of the 12 teams in the tournament), where Louis Lynagh replaces Monty Ioane on the wing, and Tommaso Allan comes in for Lorenzo Pani at full-back. In the pack, Ross Vintcent comes gets the nod at blindside in place of Alessandro Ortombina.

All Blacks v Italy line-ups and officials

New Zealand

15. Damian McKenzie
14. Will Jordan
13. Billy Proctor
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Leroy Carter
10. Ruben Love
9.  Cam Roigard

1.  Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3.  Tyrel Lomax
4.  Sam Darry
5. Tupou Vaa’i
6. Wallace Sititi
7.  Luke Jacobson
8.  Ardie Savea (captain)

Replacements:
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho
17. George Bower
18. Pasilo Tosi
19. Josh Lord
20. Anton Segner
21. Cortez Ratima  
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Josh Moorby

Italy

15. Tommaso Allan
14. Malik Faissal
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Louis Lynagh
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Stephen Varney

1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Niccolo Cannone
5. Andrea Zambonin
6. Ross Vintcent
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Mirco Spagnolo
18. Muhamed Hasa
19. Giulio Marini
20. Federico Ruzza
21. Riccardo Favretto
22. Alessandro Garbisi
23. Leonardo Marin

Luc Ramos (France) is the referee for New Zealand v ITaly, assisted by Nic Berry (Australia) and Luke Pearce (England). The TMO is Ben Whitehouse (Wales).

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