It was always going to come down to Ireland vs France. The two form nations in Northern Hemisphere rugby in a do-or-die clash to decide the fate of the 25th Six Nations championship.
Here's how you can watch Ireland vs France from anywhere with a VPN, and potentially for free!.
The Ireland vs France kick-off is scheduled for 2.15 p.m GMT on Saturday, March 8. That's 6.15 a.m PT / 9.15 a.m ET / 1.15 a.m AEDT (Sunday).
• FREE — ITVX (U.K.) / VM Play (Ireland)
• AUS — Stan
• U.S. — Peacock
• Watch anywhere — Try NordVPN 100% risk free
For the hosts, having survived an almighty scare in Cardiff, a coveted Grand Slam is also up for grabs today. Victory by any margin would make a clean sweep a virtual procession with only Italy left standing in their way.
More significantly, it would make an unprecedented hat-trick of titles an inevitability. No nation has ever won three in a row dating back to the tournament's inception in 1910.
But—and it's a big but—first they have to overcome a formidable French outfit that just plundered 73 points and 11 tries away in Rome. With so much at stake, France will deploy in Dublin with all the artillery needed to raid the Irish fortress.
Bidding to not only upset the apple cart but smash the whole thing to bits, head coach Fabian Galthié has packed seven forwards on the bench, with just one back in the shape of scrum-half Maxime Lucu.
Fly-half Romain Ntamack has been recalled following a three-match suspension. Thomas Ramos shifts to full-back and Damian Penaud starts at wing—just one try shy of Serge Blanco's all-time record of 38. The forward pack is unchanged from the demolition job in Italy.
For the home side, captain and talisman Caelan Doris is reinstated at number eight, Hugo Keenan returns at full-back, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw start in midfield and Peter O'Mahony gets the nod at blindside flanker.
Read on to discover how to watch Ireland vs France live streams, and watch the 2025 Six Nations championship wherever you are in the world—including our guide to free options.
FREE Ireland vs France live streams
Where to watch Ireland vs France live streams for FREE
If you're in the U.K., you can catch all 15 matches of the 2025 Six Nations Championship, including Ireland vs France, via free-to-air live streams.
Every game will be shown on BBC or ITV, as well as via their streaming services BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Just make sure you have a valid U.K. TV license. Ireland vs France is on ITV and ITVX.
The tournament is also free to watch in Ireland, with RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Play sharing the matches. Ireland vs France will be on the Virgin Media channel and Virgin Media Play.
But what if you're caught short overseas during the tournament? Rest at ease, you can watch every kick, pass, tackle and try via a VPN instead.
NordVPN is the gold standard, but we've also highlighted other options in our best VPN services list. Scroll on to see how it works.
How to watch Ireland vs France live streams from anywhere
Overseas and blocked from streaming Ireland vs France like you would at home? We've got a hack for that. You can still catch all the action thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
This clever software makes your device appear to be back in your home country, even if you're soaking up the rays on the other side of the world. Simply set it up, then sit back and tune into the rugby like you usually would.
Right now, NordVPN is our number one choice for best VPN – find out more in our NordVPN review.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple, just follow these steps.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K., but still want to watch on ITVX, you'd select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to your streaming service of choice and watch the rugby as usual.
How to watch Ireland vs France live streams in the U.S.
Peacock, NBC's streaming service, has the rights to show every game of the 2025 Six Nations championship in the U.S., including Ireland vs France.
Subscriptions start from just $7.99 per month (or $79.99 for the year). Select matches also scheduled to be shown on the network's CNBC channel, but check local listings for the matches and times as they aren't all live.
Already subscribed to Peacock but outside the U.S. right now? That's when a VPN like NordVPN will help make sure you don't miss a minute of the 2025 Six Nations.
How to watch Ireland vs France live streams for FREE in the U.K.
As in previous years, coverage of the 2025 Six Nations championship will be shared between the BBC and ITV in the U.K.
ITV has the rights to Ireland vs France – they will be showing all of Ireland's home matches during the tournament.
That means you can watch Saturday's match live on ITV1 on TV, and also live and on-demand via the ITVX streaming service, which are both free with a valid TV license.
Away from home? You can still catch all the action using a VPN, such as our top pick: NordVPN.
How to watch Ireland vs France live streams in Australia
Soaking up the sun Down Under? Rugby fans in Australia can watch Ireland vs France on Stan Sport, with plans starting from $12 per month for the sport add-on (on top of a regular Stan subscription at $15 a month).
Traveling overseas? We've got you. You can watch all the 2025 Six Nations via a VPN. Our number one VPN service right now is NordVPN, but you can take your pick from our best VPN services list.
How to watch Ireland vs France live streams in New Zealand
Watching from the rugby heartland of New Zealand? You can catch Ireland vs France via Sky Sport NZ. A monthly subscription costs $42, or it's $499.99 for a whole year.
Kick-off will be at 3.15 a.m NZDT on Sunday.
Not home right now? You can still tune into the 2025 Six Nations live streams by using one of the best VPN services around, such as NordVPN.
Ireland vs France predictions
Can England still win the Six Nations?
If France are to clinch a famous victory at the Aviva Stadium, it would blow this Six Nations championship wide open. Whisper it, but there's a chance that Ireland, France and England could all finish on 20 points, with the victor coming down to points difference.
Improbably, perhaps. Implausible, maybe. But possible, certainly.
Whatever the outcome, Saturday will undoubtedly be an emotional occasion for the soon-to-retire Irish trio of O'Mahony, prop Cian Healey and scrum-half Conor Murray.
Sharing 372 caps, five Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams between them, the British and Irish Lions regulars announced they will exit the Test arena after the final match of the tournament.
A potential party pooper amongst the invitees is Louis Bielle-Biarrey. The flying winger has clocked up nine direct try involvements from the opening three matches, with five tries and four assists—already the joint highest by any player in a single championship.
Elsewhere, the battle between Jamison Gibson-Park and Antoine Dupont—arguably the form scrum-halves in world rugby—is destined to be another flash point. The winner of that particular duel is likely to decide the fate of the contest—and with it the championship. No pressure, eh.
2025 Six Nations results and fixtures
All times GMT
Round 1
Friday, January 31
France 43-0 Wales, Stade de France at 8.15 p.m.
Saturday, February 1
Scotland 31-19 Italy, Scottish Gas Murrayfield at 2.15 p.m.
Ireland 27-22 England, Aviva Stadium at 4.45 p.m.
Round 2
Saturday, February 8
Italy 22-15 Wales, Stadio Olimpico at 2.15 p.m.
England 26-25 France, Allianz Stadium Twickenham at 4.45 p.m.
Sunday, February 9
Scotland 18-32 Ireland, Scottish Gas Murrayfield at 3 p.m.
Round 3
Saturday, February 22
Wales 18-27 Ireland, Principality Stadium at 2.15 p.m.
England 16-15 Scotland, Allianz Stadium Twickenham at 4.45 p.m.
Sunday, February 23
Italy 24-73 France, Stadio Olimpico at 3 p.m.
Round 4
Saturday, March 8
Ireland v France, Aviva Stadium at 2.15 p.m.
Scotland v Wales, Scottish Gas Murrayfield at 4.45 p.m.
Sunday, March 9
England v Italy, Allianz Stadium Twickenham at 3 p.m.
Round 5
Saturday, March 15
Italy v Ireland, Stadio Olimpico at 2.15 p.m.
Wales v England, Principality Stadium at 4.45 p.m.
France v Scotland, Stade de France at 8 p.m.
