Nations Championship 2026: Japan – Italy, free broadcasts and TV channels

In the world rankings there is not much to choose between the Brave Flowers and the Azzurri…

Watch the Japan-Italy match, which the world rankings say may be too difficult to cancel (Kenta Harada/Getty Images)

Watch as Japan v Italy host Tokyo in perhaps one of the tightest games of this first weekend of Nations Championship matches. The last time they played the Brave Flowers on home soil, the Azzurri were a comfortable winner, but never underestimate a team coached by Eddie Jones…

– Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026

– Match start time: 9:40 BST / 10:40 CET / 10:40 SAST / 18:40 AEST / 20:40 NZST / 4:40 EDT

– FREE BROADCASTS: ITVX /(UK), Virgin Media Play (Ireland), TF1+ (France)

– Watch Anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% Risk-Free

You can watch live streaming of the Japan vs Italy match for free in the UK, Ireland and France. Read on to find out how to tune in to the game wherever you are this weekend, including details on how you can use a VPN to watch regular TV if you’re away from home right now.

Team compositions can be found at the bottom of the page.

How to watch Japan vs Italy for free

The opening weekend of the Nations Championship will feature several free streams, including:

• United Kingdom: Japan vs Italy is available on both terrestrial ITV4 and streaming service ITVX. Both options free to use but remember that you need a valid TV license to watch/stream live TV in the UK. ITV coverage will begin at 9.30am BST with kick-off at 9.40am.
• Ireland: Rugby fans in Ireland will be able to watch the Japan – Italy match for free on Virgin Media Play. The game will begin at 9:40 am EST.
• France: Live broadcasts of the Japan – Italy match are available. for free on the TF1+ streaming service. The match starts at 10:40 Central time.

Heading abroad this weekend? Residents of the UK, Ireland and France can still watch their regular free streaming service using a good VPN. Keep reading to find out more…

Watch the broadcast of the Japan – Italy match from anywhere in the world.

Abroad right now? This doesn’t mean you have to miss rugby. By using a VPN, you can avoid geo-blocking restrictions that might otherwise prevent you from tuning into Japan vs Italy when you’re abroad. There are plenty of good VPNs you can buy, but tech experts at TechRadar believe NordVPN is currently number one in the world.

More ways to watch Japan vs Italy

• Australia: Stan Sports This is the place to watch live streaming of the Japan vs Italy match. To tune in, you’ll need the $20 per month Stan Sport plan (in addition to your basic Stan subscription). Kickoff is tonight at 6:40 pm EST.
• New Zealand: In New Zealand, the Japan v Italy match is broadcast on Sky Sport, where a streaming subscription costs $54.99 per month. Kicks off tonight at 8:40pm NZ time.
• SOUTH AFRICA: SuperSport will be your destination for Japan vs Italy live streaming in South Africa. It is available via DSTV and streaming. The match will start this morning at 10.40 SAST.
• United States: In the US, you can watch Japan vs Italy, as well as all Nations Championship games, on World Rugby’s channel. Rugbypass TV. It’s free to use, but you’ll need to register before you can start streaming the action. The game will begin at 4:40 a.m. ET/1:40 a.m. PT on Saturday morning.

Japan – Italy: squads and officials

Japan

15. Takuro Matsunaga
14. Kazuma Ueda
13. Dylan Riley
12. Yuya Hirose
11. In Kippei Ishi
10. Ryunosuke Ito
9. Naoto Saito

1. Okabe’s goal
2. Mamoru Harada
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Harry Hawkings
5. Warner Dirns (captain)
6. Ben Gunther
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Jack Cornelsen

Substitutions:
16. Hayate Era
17. Sojiro Otsuka
18. Keijiro Tamefusa
19. Michael Stolberg
20. Michael Leitch
21. Tiennan Costley
22. Itsuki Kamimura
23. Sam Green

Italy

15. Lorenzo Pani
14. Malik Faisal
13. Juan Ignacio Brex
12. Tommaso Menoncello
11. Monty Ioan
10. Paolo Garbisi
9. Stephen Varney

1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Niccolo Cannone
5. Andrea Zambonin
6. Alessandro Ortombina
7. Michele Lamaro (captain)
8. Lorenzo Cannone

Substitutions:
16. Gianmarco Lucchesi
17. Mirko Spagnolo
18. Mohamed Hasa
19. Riccardo Favretto
20. Ross Vincent
21. Alessandro Fusco
22. Leonardo Marin
23. Tommaso Allan

Australia’s Nick Berry will blow the whistle, assisted by Luke Ramos (France) and Sam Grove-White (Scotland). Ian Tempest (England) – TMO.

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