- ✓The Six Nations is free-to-air in Ireland on RTÉ and Virgin Media — no subscription needed.
- ✓Both broadcasters geo-lock their players to Ireland, so they go dark the moment you’re abroad.
- ✓A VPN with an Irish server gives you an Irish IP and brings RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Player back.
- ✓Games are split between RTÉ and Virgin, so check the schedule for which one has your match.
- ✓UK fans’ route works too: a UK server for the BBC and ITV coverage.
The quick answer
To watch the Six Nations abroad, connect a VPN to an Irish server so you’re given an Irish IP address, then open RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Player — whichever is showing your match — and watch free. Both are free-to-air in Ireland; the VPN just makes them think you’re still at home. UK fans can do the same with a UK server for the BBC and ITV coverage.
Irish server + RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Player = every Ireland game, free, from anywhere.
Where the Six Nations is on
The good news for the diaspora: it’s free wherever you’d normally watch it. Coverage is split, so it helps to know who has what:
- Ireland — RTÉ & Virgin Media (free-to-air). RTÉ and Virgin Media Television share comprehensive coverage, dividing the fixtures between RTÉ 2 / RTÉ Player and Virgin Media One/Two / Virgin Media Play.
- UK — BBC & ITV (free-to-air). The BBC and ITV split the matches, with S4C carrying Welsh-language coverage.
Because the fixtures are split between broadcasters, always check the schedule for your specific match before kick-off.
Why it blocks you abroad
RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Player are geo-locked to Ireland — they check your IP address and stop playback the moment you’re outside the country, exactly like every other national broadcaster. A VPN restores an Irish IP address, and with it, access. The same applies to the BBC and ITV in the UK.
How to watch, step by step
Start to finish, about three minutes:
- 1Get a VPN with an Irish server
You need a provider with a physical Irish (Dublin) server. CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN all unblock RTÉ and Virgin reliably in our data — see the shortlist below.
- 2Install the app and connect to Ireland
Download the app for your device, sign in, and connect to the Ireland (Dublin) location. You now have an Irish IP address.
- 3Check who has your match
RTÉ and Virgin split the fixtures. Look up the schedule for your game, then open RTÉ Player (sign in to your free RTÉ account) or Virgin Media Player accordingly.
- 4Kick off
Press play — the broadcaster sees an Irish connection and streams as if you were home. For UK coverage instead, connect to a UK server and use BBC iPlayer or ITVX.
Which VPNs work for the Six Nations
The job is unblocking RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Player with an Irish server fast enough for live rugby. From our testing, CyberGhost (dedicated RTÉ server), NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN all handle it. Our top picks:
See the full ranking in our best VPN for the Six Nations & rugby, or the wider how to watch RTÉ Player abroad guide.
Devices & match-day tips
- On the big screen: install the VPN app on a Fire TV Stick, Android TV or Apple TV, connect to Ireland, then open RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Player.
- Connect early. Set up and test your stream well before kick-off — not at 2:29 for a 2:30 start.
- Blocked? Switch to another Irish server and reload; live sport draws heavy traffic. Our RTÉ-not-working fix applies here too.
- Legit only. This is about the free-to-air broadcasters you’re entitled to — no pirate streams. See are VPNs legal in Ireland.