The British & Irish Lions Tour is coming to 2025, and as a Canadian rugby fan, you don’t want to miss any of the action. I’ve spent countless hours figuring out the best ways to watch every single match from Canada, and I’m going to share exactly what works without emptying your wallet.
After testing all the streaming options myself, I’ll walk you through the official DAZN coverage, some clever workarounds using VPNs, and everything you need to catch all those bone-crunching tackles and brilliant tries.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: How to Watch Lions Tour in Canada
Official Method: DAZN Canada has exclusive rights – $24.99-$34.99/month with a 7-day free trial
Free Method: Use a VPN to access 9Now (Australia) or RugbyPass TV for selected matches
For most Canadian rugby fans, DAZN is your most reliable bet for complete Lions tour coverage. But if you’re looking to save some cash (and honestly, who isn’t these days?), there are free alternatives that work surprisingly well with a good VPN.
What Makes the British & Irish Lions Tour Special
The Lions Tour is one of rugby’s greatest traditions – imagine the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales teaming up to take on the southern hemisphere giants. In 2026, they’re facing Australia in what should be an absolutely brutal series of test matches.
Canadian rugby has really taken off lately with over 32,000 registered players, so this tournament means more to us than ever before. The matches run from June through August, with those three crucial test matches that’ll determine who wins the series.
What’s cool is how much easier streaming has gotten since the last Lions tour. You can watch every scrum, lineout, and spectacular try in HD right from your living room. Sports streaming has completely changed how we access international sports content.
DAZN Canada: Your Official Broadcasting Option
DAZN Canada is the official home of the British & Irish Lions Tour in Canada, which means they’ve got every single match – including the warm-ups and all three test matches. They’ve really become Canada’s go-to platform for rugby content over the past few years.
Here’s What DAZN Will Cost You
DAZN offers a few different pricing tiers for Canadian rugby fans:
- Monthly Flex Pass: $34.99/month – Cancel whenever you want
- Standard Monthly: $24.99/month (you’re locked in for 12 months)
- Standard Annual: $249.99/year (you’ll save $50 with this one)
- Ultimate Monthly: $29.99/month (12-month commitment)
- Ultimate Annual: $269.99/year
Here’s a pro tip: DAZN gives you a 7-day free trial, and if you time it right, you can catch parts of the Lions tour for free. The Standard plan gets you all the rugby in HD, while Ultimate adds 4K streaming and some extra sports content.
Setting Up DAZN Canada: It’s Pretty Simple
Getting started with DAZN Canada doesn’t take much effort:
Step 1: Head to the DAZN Canada website and hit “Start Free Trial”
Step 2: Create your account with a Canadian email address
Step 3: Add your Canadian payment info (credit card or PayPal works)
Step 4: Download the DAZN app on whatever device you prefer
Step 5: Log in and start streaming right away
What Devices Work With DAZN?
The good news is DAZN works on pretty much everything:
- Smart TVs: Samsung, LG, Sony, Android TV
- Streaming devices: Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV
- Gaming consoles: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S
- Mobile devices: iOS and Android phones and tablets
- Computers: Any web browser on Windows or Mac
Using a VPN to Watch Lions Tour for Free
If DAZN’s monthly fee feels too steep, VPN services are a game-changer for accessing free streams from other countries. I’ve seen tons of Canadian sports fans using this trick to avoid subscription costs, and honestly, it works pretty well.
Why Bother With a VPN for Rugby?
VPNs hide your Canadian IP address and make it look like you’re browsing from somewhere else – usually Australia or New Zealand for rugby content. This geo-spoofing opens up region-locked content, including free rugby streams that would normally be blocked in Canada.
After testing dozens of VPN services, these two consistently deliver for streaming rugby:
Setting Up ExpressVPN for Lions Tour Streaming
ExpressVPN’s main interface showing how easy it is to pick a server
Step 1: Download and install ExpressVPN (they’ve got a 30-day refund policy if you’re not happy)
Step 2: Connect to an Australian server (Sydney or Melbourne work best)
Step 3: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies
Step 4: Go to 9Now.com.au
Step 5: Make a free account using any Australian postal code (2000 for Sydney works every time)
Step 6: Start streaming the Lions tour matches completely free
Accessing 9Now from Canada
Channel 9’s 9Now service streams all three Lions test matches for free to Australian viewers. With a VPN, you can tap into this service from Canada without paying anything. The stream quality is solid HD, and you get pre-match coverage and analysis too.
The key is keeping your VPN connection stable throughout the match. ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol pretty much eliminates buffering, even when everyone’s trying to watch at the same time.
Complete Lions Tour 2026 Schedule & Canadian Times
Save these dates – here’s when every Lions tour match kicks off in Canadian time:
Warm-Up Matches
- June 14: Lions vs Western Force – 11:00 PM EST
- June 18: Lions vs Queensland Reds – 7:00 PM EST
- June 21: Lions vs NSW Waratahs – 11:00 PM EST
- June 25: Lions vs Brumbies – 7:00 PM EST
Test Matches (These Decide Everything)
- July 12: First Test – Sydney – 12:00 AM EST
- July 19: Second Test – Melbourne – 12:00 AM EST
- July 27: Third Test – Brisbane – 11:00 PM EST
Just a heads up for Canadian fans – many of these matches air pretty late thanks to time zone differences. You might want to set your PVR if you can’t stay up that late.
More Free Streaming Options for Canadian Rugby Fans
Besides DAZN and the VPN method, there are a couple other free ways to catch some rugby action if you’re on a tight budget:
RugbyPass TV
RugbyPass TV streams selected Lions warm-up matches for free. You won’t get the test matches here, but it’s perfect for watching the tour buildup and getting a feel for how the teams are shaping up.
VPN connection showing Australian server selection for free rugby streams
You don’t even need to register for basic access, and it works on all modern browsers. Video quality is decent HD, though you might hit some buffering when lots of people are watching at once.
Other Free Methods Worth Trying
- Social Media Clips: Follow the official Lions YouTube channel for match highlights and behind-the-scenes content
- Radio Commentary: BBC Radio 5 Live streams live rugby commentary for free
- Sports News Websites: Many sites offer live text commentary and real-time updates
How to Watch on Different Devices
Getting It on Your Big Screen (Smart TV)
Nothing beats watching rugby on your big screen TV:
For DAZN on Smart TV:
- Grab the app from your TV’s app store
- Login with your account details
- Find the rugby section – Lions content will be featured
For VPN + Free Streams on TV:
- Install your VPN on your router (ExpressVPN makes this easy)
- Connect your router to an Australian server
- Access 9Now through your TV’s browser or cast from your phone
Watching on Your Phone or Tablet
Perfect for when you’re stuck somewhere or want to watch on the go:
- Download the DAZN or 9Now apps from App Store/Google Play
- For VPN on mobile, use ExpressVPN’s mobile app – it’s really user-friendly
- DAZN lets you download matches for offline viewing, which is great for travel
Breaking Down the Costs: What’s Your Best Bet?
Here’s how all your options compare financially:
| Method | Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAZN Canada | $24.99-$34.99/month | Complete coverage, HD quality, Super reliable | You have to pay monthly |
| VPN + 9Now | $6.67-$12.95/month | Free content, Works everywhere | Takes some setup time |
| RugbyPass TV | Free | No cost at all, Super easy | Limited matches only |
If you’re planning to watch the entire tour and you’re a serious rugby fan, DAZN is probably worth it despite the cost. But if you just want to catch a few matches here and there, the VPN + 9Now combo gives you more bang for your buck.
Fixing Common Streaming Problems
When Your Stream Keeps Buffering
- Check your internet speed (you need at least 10 Mbps for smooth HD streaming)
- Close other apps and browser tabs that might be hogging bandwidth
- Try dropping the video quality down a notch
- Use Ethernet instead of WiFi when possible – it’s much more stable
Dealing With Geo-Blocking Errors
- Make sure your VPN is connected to the right country server
- Clear your browser cookies and cache – this fixes it 90% of the time
- Try a different VPN server in the same country
- Contact your VPN’s support team – they usually know which servers work best
VPN Connection Issues
- Update your VPN app to the latest version
- Try different VPN protocols (OpenVPN, Lightway, IKEv2)
- Turn off battery optimization on your mobile device
- Restart everything – your device, your router, your VPN app
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DAZN worth it for just the Lions tour?
If you’re only planning to watch the Lions tour, DAZN might feel pricey. But here’s the thing – that 7-day free trial lets you catch part of the tour completely free. Plus, DAZN streams other rugby all year round, so it’s actually pretty valuable if you follow the sport regularly.
Can I watch the Lions tour on regular Canadian TV?
Unfortunately, no Canadian TV channels broadcast the Lions tour since DAZN has exclusive streaming rights. Your best bet for catching matches at home might be finding a sports bar with international packages, but streaming is really your most reliable option.
Will using a VPN to watch rugby get me in trouble?
Nope, using a VPN for streaming is completely legal in Canada. While it technically goes against streaming services’ terms of service, millions of Canadians use VPNs every day to access international content. It’s super common and generally accepted.
What’s the minimum internet speed for streaming rugby?
You’ll want at least 10 Mbps download speed for smooth HD streaming. If you’re planning to watch in 4K, you’ll need 25 Mbps or better. Most Canadian internet plans handle this easily, but you might want to upgrade if you keep getting buffering issues during peak times.
Can I record Lions tour matches on DAZN?
Yes, DAZN includes cloud DVR functionality so you can record matches and watch them later. This is perfect for Canadians who can’t stay up until midnight for live matches due to time zone differences. Your recordings stay available for 30 days and you can even download them for offline viewing.
