The National Rugby League doesn't sit on one single streaming app the way some American leagues do. Rights get sold country by country, which means a fan in Brisbane, Los Angeles, and Manchester could each be watching a completely different broadcaster for the same Friday night game. This guide breaks down exactly which service carries NRL in the US, UK, and Canada, what each one costs, and where the coverage gaps are.
Why NRL Coverage Is Split Across So Many Apps
Rugby league's home market is Australia, where Channel 9 and Fox League split the weekly schedule between free-to-air and pay TV. Everywhere else, a single international rights holder picks up the feed and repackages it for that region. That's why a viewer's options look completely different depending on where they're signing up from, and why a subscription bought in one country often won't unlock anything abroad.
Watching NRL Without Cable in the US
American viewers get NRL through Fox's sports networks. Three regular-season games air each week on FS1 or FS2, alongside full coverage of State of Origin and the finals series, which makes a cord-cutting bundle that includes those channels the simplest route in.
- Fox One: Fox's standalone streaming app carries every game that airs on FS1 and FS2, plus the local Fox affiliate.
- Sling or Fubo: Both bundle FS1 and FS2 alongside dozens of other channels, useful for viewers who also want NFL or MLB coverage.
- Watch NRL: The league's own international platform, streaming every match rather than just the ones Fox selects for TV.
Fox One bundles FS1, FS2, and the local Fox network into one app, which covers the three NRL games Fox typically airs each week plus the full Origin and finals slate. It's the cheapest way to see live NRL without also paying for a dedicated rugby app, and the same subscription doubles as coverage for college football and MLB in the fall.
- Entry price: $19.99/mo Standard plan, per Fox Corp's official pricing
- Annual option: $199.99/yr Save vs monthly
- Free trial: 7 days
- Works in: USA
- Devices: Roku, Fire TV, iOS, Android, web
Fox only televises three of the eight weekly NRL matches. Anyone chasing every fixture, including bye-round clashes, will still need a dedicated rugby league platform on top of a cable-replacement service.
Watch NRL is the league's own international streaming platform, built for fans outside Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands who want every match rather than just the ones a local broadcaster selects. Its own terms of use state that pricing is shown at checkout and can include introductory offers, so the numbers below are what recent subscribers have reported rather than a fixed published rate.
- Weekly pass: ~$20/wk Reported, confirm at checkout
- Monthly / annual passes: Also offered Auto-renews unless cancelled 48hrs prior
- Free trial: Varies by promotion
- Works in: Outside Australia, NZ, and the Pacific Islands
- Devices: iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Chromecast
Watching NRL Without Cable in the UK
Sky Sports holds exclusive UK rights to the NRL, airing three matches a week plus the full State of Origin and finals series. Cord-cutters don't need a satellite dish to get it — NOW's Sports Membership, which starts at £34.99 a month according to its own pricing FAQ, unlocks the same Sky Sports channels, with shorter day-pass options also available for fans who only want to tune in around Origin season.
Watching NRL Without Cable in Canada
Sportsnet carries the NRL in Canada, again with three games a week alongside Origin and the finals. Sportsnet+ is the streaming-only route in, priced from roughly CAD $29.99 a month or $249.99 a year, and it's bundled with the network's NHL and MLB coverage, so a hockey fan picking it up for rugby league gets a fair amount of overlap value.
Comparing NRL Streaming Options
| Service | Price/mo | Best For | Trial | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox One | $19.99 Standard | 3 games/wk + Origin | ✅ 7 days | 🇺🇸 |
| Watch NRL | ~$20/wk Confirm at checkout | Every match | Varies | 🌍 Outside AUS/NZ/Pacific |
| Sling / Fubo | Varies By tier | FS1/FS2 bundle | Varies | 🇺🇸 |
| Sky Sports (NOW) | £34.99 Sports Membership | 3 games/wk + Origin | No | 🇬🇧 |
| Sportsnet+ | CAD $29.99 $249.99/yr option | 3 games/wk + Origin | Varies | 🇨🇦 |
Streaming prices, promos, and match schedules change often, and Watch NRL in particular doesn't publish a fixed rate. Confirm current pricing and that week's fixture list directly on the broadcaster's site before signing up.
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9,300+ servers · Fast for live sport · 30-day money-backFrequently Asked Questions
What channel is NRL on in the US?
NRL games in the US air on FS1 and FS2, part of the Fox Sports family. Fox One, Sling, and Fubo all carry those channels for cord-cutters, though Fox typically only televises three of the week's eight matches.
Can I watch every NRL game without cable?
Yes, but only through Watch NRL. General cable-replacement bundles carry the games their local broadcast partner selects, which is a partial schedule, not the full round.
Does Fox One include State of Origin?
Yes. Fox's NRL rights cover the full State of Origin series and finals series in addition to the three weekly regular-season games.
What's the cheapest way to watch NRL in the UK?
A NOW Sky Sports day pass is the cheapest option for someone who only wants to watch a single match or a short run of games, rather than committing to the full Sports Membership.
Is NRL streaming available in Canada?
Yes, through Sportsnet and its Sportsnet+ streaming service, which carries three games a week plus Origin and the finals series.
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