If you live in Asia or are visiting the region, it’s always great to know how you can get your oval-ball fix. A growing number of better and affordable streaming options have enabled rugby lovers in Asia to watch more rugby legally, and from the comfort of their home, smartphone or in bars across the Asia-Pacific region.
Updated January 2021
Rugbypass
RugbyPass is a popular subscription-based digital rugby platform and streaming website. The service is geo-locked to mostly Asian countries. The service offers live on-demand streaming to your TV, PC, laptop, phone or connected device. The RugbyPass app works on Android and iOS.
They have offered a large range of rugby content available including The Six Nations, The Rugby Championship, June & November Internationals, Super Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup, Premiership Rugby, Pro 14, Mitre 10 Cup, and Currie Cup.
Users can also watch highlights of games or full recorded game in the RugbyPass catalogue of past games as well as bespoke VOD documentaries and rugby series.
Subscription fees are as little as USD $4.99 per month in Asia.
Premier Sports Asia
In October 2020, Premier Sports confirmed it had acquired the rights to the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. It launched its service in twenty-two Asian countries via ‘Premier Player Asia’ which will broadcast solely via an OTT platform.
The new streaming platform will also broadcast all fifteen games from the 2021 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The subscription rates are $20 per week or $60 for 6 months.
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports Asia is a well-known TV channel which operates in the Asia-Pacific. It had rights to air rugby union and rugby league. The channel was available in the following countries: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia-Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. However, the channel is also sometimes available in other countries such as Cambodia via satellite and TV bundle packages.
Most of the premium professional and international rugby games were available such as Super Rugby, Internationals Tests, Gallagher Premiership, Top 14 etc.
From 29 January 2020, Setanta Sports Asia was been replaced by Rugby Pass TV.
RagbiOnline
Although this is a small independent company, they attempt to a great job and streaming rugby across Malaysia as well as tournament updates and results.
beIN Asia Pacific: beIN Sports Rugby
The company offers the Six Nations, Champions Cup, Guinness Pro14, International Rugby and Challenge Cup rugby in several Asian countries.
In August 2019 it was confirmed they would be the broadcaster of the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
In 2020 they also secured the rights to the EPCR for most of SEA and for other parts of Asia.
Asian Facebook live streams & OTT Services
Increasingly Facebook live streams are being used by tournaments in the region and federations to allow rugby fans to view the rugby matches and tournaments live. This is also being used for Social rugby tournaments such as the Vientiane 10s, Bangkok Tens etc
Hong Kong Premiership
The Hong Kong Rugby Union has done a great job over recent years and started streaming national games and selected men’s and women’s games via Facebook.
In 2020, the Union launched its own OTT streaming platform – HKRU TV, in partnership with Accedo.tv. The service is available on iOS and Android platforms and the OTT service features both live matches and VOD (Video On Demand) content.
Asia Rugby TV
Asia Rugby TV is run the Asia Rugby and is meant to be the home of Asia Rugby Championship, Asia Rugby Sevens
Series, Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy, Asia Rugby Age Grade competitions etc. However, coverage and schedules are not always clear or reliable. Most streams are offered vis YouTube or Facebook.
Rugby Asia Channel
Rugby Asia Channel has a regular weekly slot on Setanta, please check the listings for the timeslot in your region. Its a rugby program focusing on rugby events in Asia as well as interviews with clubs and people in the region.
If you know of other legal ways to watch rugby in Asia online or on TV, please feel free to get hold of us.
You can also read our update on rugby OTT Streaming services in Asia for international and professional rugby union in Asia here.
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