How to Watch Bulls v New Zealand: Live Stream Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry for Free
- The New Zealand national rugby union team opens its 2026 international calendar against France in Christchurch, marking the start of the inaugural Nations Championship.
- New head coach Dave Rennie has selected 25-year-old Ruben Love at fly-half for his first appearance of the new era, as reported by TechRadar.
- France enters the fixture severely depleted due to the calendar overlap with the domestic season.
The New Zealand national rugby union team opens its 2026 international calendar against France in Christchurch, marking the start of the inaugural Nations Championship. According to reporting by TechRadar, the fixture takes place at the newly built Te Kaha stadium on Saturday, serving as the first test of the new competition.
Ruben Love Starts at Fly-Half Under Dave Rennie
New head coach Dave Rennie has selected 25-year-old Ruben Love at fly-half for his first appearance of the new era, as reported by TechRadar. Love earned the starting role following an exceptional campaign that saw him lead the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby title in a decade. During the playoffs, Love topped the scoring charts and outperformed Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, and Damian McKenzie. Coach Rennie has surrounded the young playmaker with club teammates Cam Roigard and Jordie Barrett, while Ardie Savea captains the side in the absence of Scott Barrett, according to TechRadar’s coverage.
France Faces Selection Hurdles Without Top 14 Finalists
France enters the fixture severely depleted due to the calendar overlap with the domestic season. According to TechRadar, sizeable contingents from Toulouse and Montpellier are ineligible to play after featuring in the Top 14 final. Furthermore, captain Antoine Dupont withdrew from the tournament squad entirely after sustaining a calf injury during the domestic final. Head coach Fabien Galthié has turned to a youthful lineup, handing starting roles to Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert, as reported by TechRadar.
Global Broadcasting and Free-to-Air Streaming Options
Fans can access live coverage of the tournament through several official broadcast channels and streaming platforms. According to TechRadar, the match is available to stream for free on Rugbypass TV in the United States. In the United Kingdom, the game is broadcast free-to-air on ITV1 with streaming via ITVX, while viewers in Ireland can tune in via Virgin Media One and the Virgin Media Play platform. In Australia, the broadcast is exclusive to Stan Sport, and Sky Sport New Zealand holds the rights for viewers in New Zealand.
