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: BBC (UK, free) | Discovery+ (UK & Ireland) | The Rugby Network (US)
Maher made her debut in Bristol Bears vs Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday, January 5, a game that was moved to a new stadium, such was the demand for tickets. The demand for live tickets has been matched by demand for television and live stream options, with the BBC striking a late deal to air the final games.
Read on for our guide on how to watch Premiership Women’s Rugby online, on TV, and from anywhere with a VPN.
Premiership Women’s Rugby Schedule: semi-finals
Saturday 1 March: Saracens v Harlequins | 3pm GMT / 10am ET | TNT Sports, Discovery+ (UK), The Rugby Network (US), RugbyPass TV (free, geo-restricted)
Sunday 2 March: Gloucester-Hartpury v Bristol Bears | 3pm GMT / 10am ET | BBC (free, UK), TNT Sports, Discovery+ (UK), The Rugby Network (US), RugbyPass TV (free, geo-restricted)
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. Additionally, the BBC has struck a late rights deal to show select fixtures, including the final.
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.
The games on the BBC won’t make it to TV but can be streamed online via the BBC iPlayer or simply the BBC Sport website.
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. Additionally, certain games, including the final, will also now be shown online by the BBC in the UK.
Note, the free streams on RugbyPassTV are often geo-restricted, with the UK and USA most often excluded. BBC iPlayer only works in the UK.
Abroad right now? Use a VPN to tune into your coverage – more on that below.
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
Ilona Maher will figure in the PWR semi-final between Gloucester Hartpury and Bristol Bears on Sunday March 2, which will be shown live on the BBC (free), TNT Sports, and Discovery+ in the UK, and by The Rugby Network in the US. Details on those broadcasters above.
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.
Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
- Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
- Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.