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)
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. She will now make her first full debut in the starting line-up as the Bears travel to Exeter Chiefs on Sunday, January 12.
The demand for live tickets has been 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
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears on January 12 will be shown on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK, The Rugby Network in the US, and for free on RugbyPassTV but with geo-restrictions.
Premiership Women’s Rugby Schedule: Round 13
Sat 11 Jan Saracens v Leicester Tigers (2pm GMT)
Sat 11 Jan Gloucester-Hartpury v Loughborough Lightning (2pm GMT)
Sun 12 Jan Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Bears (3pm GMT)
Postponed: Sale Sharks v Trailfinders
Bye week: Harlequins
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