Mickel Clark
Over the years, the Black Shirts, the New Zealanders, and the South African Rugby team have dominated the Rugby World Cup. Both teams have won the World Cup three times and are looking forward to doing the same this year.
In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know before the event starts and where and how to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Canada for free.
How to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada for free?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is streaming on ITV in the UK. ITV is a free-to-air channel, only available in the United Kingdom, but can be accessed from Canada with a reliable VPN.
We recommend getting an ExpressVPN account for free to watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV in Canada online.
- Sign up to ExpressVPN to unblock ITV. (You’ll get three extra months free with a 12-month plan, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee)
- Download ExpressVPN on your devices of choice (iOS, Android,
Windows, Mac, and more) - Open the app and connect to a British server
- Now open itv.com in your browser or in-app
- Search for Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV from the Canada
- Enjoy
Watching Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada for Free| Detailed Explanation
Here are the detailed steps you need to follow to watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 from Canada for free on ITV:
1- Get ExpressVPN to access ITV
You can get three extra months free of ExpressVPN with their annual plan. That’s 15 months for the price of 12. A single subscription simultaneously supports five devices and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2- Download the ExpressVPN app on your device
ExpressVPN supports almost all devices, including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more. Using their smart DNS, you can also use ExpressVPN on your smart TV or gaming console.
3- Connect to a British Server
After downloading the ExpressVPN app, open up the ExpresVPN app and connect to a British server to get a British IP address.
Since ITV is only accessible from the United Kingdom, you will need a British IP address to access it and watch Rugby World Cup 2023 from Canada for free.
4- Enjoy
After connecting to a British server, open itv.com in your browser or in-app, search for Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV from Canada, and enjoy.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada?
The broadcasting rights of Rugby World Cup 2023 are distributed among several channels and streaming services. ITV is among them, and it’s a free-to-air channel in the UK.
We recommend watching the 2023 Rugby World Cup online for free in Ireland on ITV with an ExpressVPN account.
We have checked with most Canadian streaming services, and none have the official broadcasting rights to stream Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada. Therefore the best option you have is to unblock ITV with ExpressVPN and stream all matches of the Rugby World Cup in Canada.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 for free in Canada?
Unfortunately, no Canadian streaming service will broadcast the Rugby World Cup 2023 for free in Canada. However, if you are looking for a free fix to stream the Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada, we recommend getting an ExpressVPN account to change your IP address to a British IP and watch the Rugby World Cup 2023 on ITV.
Our team of experts has tested ExpressVPN to stream sports events like US Open 2023 in Canada, Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and Wimbledon from Canada, and it worked perfectly.
Which channels will have Rugby World Cup 2023 in Canada?
As of writing this blog, none of the Canadian sports streaming services has the official broadcasting rights to stream the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Canada. However, you can check for yourself with TSN and RSD websites.
Both of these options are costly if you compare them with watching the 2023 Rugby World Cup for free on ITV with an ExpressVPN subscription from Canada. We tested it to stream Rugby World Cup 2023 in South Africa, and it worked perfectly.
TSN Canada
TSN is a popular Canadian sports TV channel. It first started broadcasting on September 1, 1984. This was 39 years ago today.
TSN shows lots of different sports – hockey, football, basketball, soccer, golf, and more. Many Canadians watch Wimbledon tennis on TSN.
You can subscribe directly to TSN for around $25 per month. There are also deals if you pay for 6 months or a full year at once. TSN is also included in some bigger TV packages from cable companies.
So in summary, TSN has been Canada’s main sports channel for 39 years. It shows all kinds of sports and many Canadians watch it. You can subscribe directly or get it as part of a bigger TV package.
RSD Canada
RDS is a popular French Canadian sports TV channel. It first started broadcasting on September 1, 1989. This was 34 years ago today.
RDS shows lots of different sports like hockey, football, and car racing. It is aimed at French speakers in Quebec and other parts of Canada.
You can subscribe directly to RDS for around $25 per month. There are deals if you pay for 6 months or a year at once. RDS also comes with some bigger French TV packages.
In summary, RDS has been the main French sports channel in Canada for 34 years. It covers many sports and is popular with French speakers across Canada. You can subscribe directly or get it as part of a bigger French TV package.
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 on mobile in Canada?
If TSN and RSD are streaming the Rugby World Cup, you can watch it with their app on your mobile devices. Both TSN and RSD has applications for iPhone and Android devices.
However, the best and most free way to stream the 2023 Rugby World Cup is on ITV with an ExpressVPN account. We have tested it to stream Rugby World Cup in Netherlands and it worked perfectly.
Rugby World Cup News
The opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup brought inconsistent rulings around one of the sport’s most contentious issues – head-on-head contact. Three similar collisions resulted in different outcomes, fueling debate about consistency in officiating dangerous play.
In Saturday’s match between England and Argentina, Tom Curry was red-carded just 3 minutes in for making head contact with Juan Cruz Mallia, continuing England’s troubles with red cards in 2022. However, on Sunday, Chile’s Martin Sigren received only a sin-bin for a comparable head clash with a Japanese player.
Most frustrating for Scotland was the first minute incident between Jack Dempsey and Jesse Kriel in their match with South Africa. Despite clear head-on-head contact, the officials took no action, in contrast to the strict sanction against England the day prior.
The lack of consistency across these three head contact cases within 24 hours of each other at rugby’s showcase event demonstrates the difficulty in officiating one of the sport’s grayest areas. With player welfare paramount, fans and teams alike will expect clearer standards and application going forward in the tournament.
Rugby World Cup 2023 start date?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will start on Friday, 8th September 2023, and will continue for more than a month, ending on Saturday, 28th October 2023.
Where is the Rugby World Cup 2023 happening?
The Rugby World Cup 2023 starts on September 8th in France. The final match will be on October 28th in Paris.
20 rugby teams have already qualified, including top teams like New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia. There will be 48 total games.
The teams will be split into 4 groups of 5. The top 2 teams in each group will move on to the quarterfinals.
France is in a group with New Zealand and Italy. The defending champions, South Africa, are in a different group.
France has been working hard to get ready to host the World Cup. Rugby fans around the world are excited for what should be an amazing tournament. You can watch the Rugby World Cup in France on TF1 for free.
What is the prize money for the Rugby World Cup 2023?
There is no official word on the prize money of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, it’s expected to be more than $20 million, which was awarded to the winning team in 2019.
Why is Rugby World Cup so popular in Canada?
The first official Rugby World Cup tournament was held in 1987, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. This very important event helped make the sport more popular globally. The first tournament was won by the New Zealand team called the All Blacks, setting things up for more very competitive World Cup tournaments to follow.
The tournament now has 20 national teams. The teams are divided into four groups of five teams each. After playing round-robin games in the groups, the top two teams in each group move on to the knockout phase – quarterfinals, semifinals and final match. The whole tournament takes around six exciting weeks.
Some memorable moments in Rugby World Cup history:
- In 2003, England’s Jonny Wilkinson scored the winning drop goal against Australia in extra time, giving England their first ever World Cup trophy.
- The very strong All Blacks team from New Zealand has won the Cup three times – in 1987, 2011 and 2015. Their famous Haka dance before matches is known everywhere.
- In 2015, Japan surprisingly defeated two-time champions South Africa in one of rugby’s biggest upsets ever, a pivotal moment for rugby’s growth in Asia.
The Rugby World Cup has become more than just a sporting event. It brings together fans from all over the rugby-loving world, united by their love of the sport. From local communities hosting matches to fans traveling long distances, the tournament promotes unity and good sportsmanship globally.
Some legendary Rugby World Cup players:
- Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – Became a worldwide superstar at the 1995 World Cup.
- Martin Johnson (England) – Captain of England’s 2003 World Cup winning team.
- Richie McCaw (New Zealand) – Led the All Blacks to World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015.
In summary, the Rugby World Cup has become a highly anticipated tournament held every four years featuring top teams and players, thrilling rugby fans from around the world.
NFL influence in Canada
The National Football League (NFL) has steadily grown in popularity and influence across Canada over the past few decades. American football has firmly established itself as one of the most-followed sports in the country.
Canada does not have its own professional NFL team, but many Canadians passionately support and follow American NFL franchises located close to the border such as the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.
The Super Bowl is the most-watched television event of the year in Canada, regularly drawing over 10 million viewers. Major national networks like TSN dedicate a significant portion of their sports coverage to NFL games and analysis.
Youth participation in amateur football has surged in Canada, helped by investments from the NFL and CFL. Flag football is the fastest-growing sport among young Canadians. This grassroots growth points to a bright future for the game.
Several Canadian cities have hosted NFL regular season games, bringing world-class football directly to Canadian fans. The NFL also maintains a strong marketing and fan engagement presence across the country.
While the CFL remains important, the NFL’s rising popularity, especially among younger generations of sports fans, demonstrates that American football has cemented itself as a major sport in Canada’s sporting culture. Its influence and fan following continue to expand.
The Canadian Rugby team in World Cups
Rugby has a long history in Canada dating back to the 1860s. Canada’s national rugby union team represents the country in international competitions like the Rugby World Cup.
Canada competes in the Americas Rugby Championship against the USA, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. They have won the championship 4 times.
At the Rugby World Cup, Canada’s best finish was quarterfinals in 1991. They have qualified for every World Cup since 1987.
Some of Canada’s greatest rugby players include Al Charron, who played in 4 World Cups during the 90s and 2000s, and Gareth Rees, who captained Canada to their 1991 quarterfinal finish.
Recent stars include DTH van der Merwe, Canada’s all-time leading try scorer, and Tyler Ardron, who plays professionally in New Zealand.
Canada is ranked 22nd in the World Rugby rankings as of 2022. While not yet a top tier rugby nation, Canada has shown they can compete with and sometimes defeat more established teams.
Rugby has a strong domestic club and youth system across Canada. With continued development, Canada aims to break into the top tier of rugby nations in the future. Their goal is to qualify and succeed at future Rugby World Cups.
Which teams have qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2023?
Get ready for Rugby World Cup 2023 hosted in France!
The Rugby World Cup 2023 will take place in 9 cities across France from September 8 to October 28. Matches will happen in exciting locations including Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux.
So far, 20 teams have qualified, including top teams like New Zealand, England, South Africa and Australia.
The teams will be split into 4 groups of 5. The top 2 from each group will move to the quarterfinals. There will be 48 total matches, ending with the final on October 28 in Paris.
This is the first time France gets to host the Rugby World Cup. Cities all over France are preparing stadiums and getting ready for fans. Fans from around the world will come to France next year to support their teams.
There is less than a year to go! France is working hard to deliver an amazing tournament for players and fans.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | South Africa | Wales | England |
| France | Ireland | Australia | Japan |
| Italy | Scotland | Fiji | Argentina |
| Uruguay | Tonga | Georgia | Samoa |
| Namibia | Romania | Portugal | Chile |
Rugby World Cup 2023 Schedule
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is happening this year in France. Here is the complete schedule for the tournament.
Preliminary Rounds
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sept 8 | France v New Zealand | Stade de France | 8:15pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Italy v Namibia | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 12:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Ireland v Romania | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:30pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | Australia v Georgia | Stade de France | 5:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 9 | England v Argentina | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | Japan v Chile | Stade de Toulouse | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | South Africa v Scotland | Stade de Marseille | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 10 | Wales v Fiji | Stade de Bordeaux | 8:00pm |
| Thu, Sept 14 | France v Uruguay | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 15 | New Zealand v Namibia | Stadium de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Samoa v Chile | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Wales v Portugal | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 16 | Ireland v Tonga | Stade de la Beaujoire | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | South Africa v Romania | Stade de Bordeaux | 2:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | Australia v Fiji | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 17 | England v Japan | Stade de Nice | 8:00pm |
| Wed, Sept 20 | Italy v Uruguay | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Thu, Sept 21 | France v Namibia | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 22 | Argentina v Samoa | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | Georgia v Portugal | Stadium de Toulouse | 1:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | England v Chile | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 23 | South Africa v Ireland | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Sept 24 | Scotland v Tonga | Stade de Nice | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Sept 24 | Wales v Australia | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Wed, Sept 27 | Uruguay v Namibia | OL Stadium | 4:45pm |
| Thu, Sept 28 | Japan v Samoa | Stade de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Sept 29 | New Zealand v Italy | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Argentina v Chile | Stade de la Beaujoire | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Fiji v Georgia | Stade de Bordeaux | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Sept 30 | Scotland v Romania | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 1 | Australia v Portugal | Stade Geoffroy-Guichard | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Oct 1 | South Africa v Tonga | Stade de Marseille | 8:00pm |
| Thu, Oct 5 | New Zealand v Uruguay | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Fri, Oct 6 | France v Italy | OL Stadium | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | Wales v Georgia | Stade de la Beaujoire | 2:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | England v Samoa | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sat, Oct 7 | Ireland v Scotland | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Japan v Argentina | Stade de la Beaujoire | 12:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Tonga v Romania | Stade Pierre-Mauroy | 4:45pm |
| Sun, Oct 8 | Fiji v Portugal | Stade de Toulouse | 8:00pm |
Quarter-Finals
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 14 | Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D | Stade de Marseille | 4:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 14 | Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 15 | Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C | Stade de Marseille | 4:00pm |
| Sun, Oct 15 | Winner Pool 4 v Runner-up Pool B | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Semi-Finals
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 20 | Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
| Sat, Oct 21 | Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Bronze-Medal Match
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 27 | Runner-up SF 1 v Runner-up SF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
Final
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 28 | Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 | Stade de France | 8:00pm |
FAQs to stream Rugby World Cup 2023
Where to watch Rugby World Cup 2023 Live online for free?
Rugby World Cup 2023 will be streaming on ITV in the UK. The best possible way to stream it on ITV for free is with an ExpressVPN account from anywhere outside the UK.
Which teams has won the Rugby World Cups?
Unlike the FIFA World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup, the Rugby space is dominated by South Africa and New Zealand, with three victories each. The third-best team is Australia, with two wins (1991 & 1999). England has won the Rugby World Cup one time in 2003.
France has been in the finals three times (1987, 1999, 2011) but never won the Rugby World Cup, but things are a little different this time because France is the host, and the French people are looking to see their team win in their home ground.
Which stadiums will have Rugby World Cup matches?
- Stade de France (Saint-Denis) - This 80,000-capacity stadium in Paris will host the opening match and the final.
- Stade Vélodrome (Marseille) - The 67,000-seater stadium will host the semi-finals.
- Stade de Lyon (Lyon) - This 59,000-capacity venue will host semi-finals.
- Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille) - The 50,000-seater stadium will host group stage and knockout matches.
- Allianz Riviera (Nice) - This 35,000-capacity stadium on the French Riviera will be a group stage venue.
- Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Etienne) - The 35,000-seater is another group stage venue.
- Matmut Atlantique (Bordeaux) - This 42,000-capacity stadium will also host group stage matches.
- Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) - The 33,000-seater venue will be used for group stage.
- Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes) - A 38,000-capacity stadium that will host group stage matches.
Which teams have won the Rugby World Cups?
Here are the teams that have won the Rugby World Cup since the tournament began in 1987:
- New Zealand - The All Blacks have won the Rugby World Cup 3 times (1987, 2011, 2015), making them the most successful team in the tournament's history.
- South Africa - The Springboks have won the World Cup twice, in 1995 and 2007. Their 1995 win was their first World Cup title after the end of apartheid.
- Australia - The Wallabies won back-to-back World Cups in 1991 and 1999. Their 1991 victory was at home.
- England - England won their first and only World Cup title when they hosted the tournament in 2003. They defeated Australia in extra time in the final.
- No other team has won the Rugby World Cup besides these 4. The only other teams to reach the final are France (1987, 1999, 2011) and Argentina (2015).
Some key teams like Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Fiji, Japan are still searching for their first Rugby World Cup title.
Which cities will matches be held in?
Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille, Saint-Etienne, Nantes, Toulouse.
When is the Rugby World Cup final?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will begin on September 8 with hosts France versus New Zealand at Stade de France in Paris. The final will also be held at Stade de France in Paris on October 28. So the tournament will kick off and conclude in the French capital. In total, 48 matches will take place over seven weeks in 9 cities across France to crown the next World Cup winner.
Wrap Up
The topic of watching the Rugby World Cup 2023 from Canada for free has been discussed thoroughly. The best option you have to watch the tournament for free is on ITV with an ExpressVPN account to change your IP address. We tested it by watching Rugby World Cup in USA, and it worked perfectly.
Another option you have is to check out popular Canadian sports streaming services like TSN and RSD’s websites to see if they have a broadcasting schedule for the Rugby World Cup 2023.
