Rugby league fans around the globe are gearing up for the opening match of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup as Samoa takes on France at the Western Sydney Stadium. For Toa Samoa, this tournament opener marks a crucial opportunity to prove that their stunning runners-up finish at the 2021 tournament was no fluke. After a dramatic Golden Point win against England sent them to the semi-finals, the Samoans experienced a tough run of form, winning only a single international game since. NRL stars such as Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, and Stephen Crichton will look to turn things around immediately.
On the other side, France enters the fixture as the No.11-ranked team in the world, seeking their first win against Samoa in twenty years. Bolstered by NRL talent like Latrell Siegwalt and a core squad featuring players from the Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique, the French side hopes team cohesion will spark a massive tournament upset.
Viewers in Australia can watch every game of the Rugby League World Cup completely free on the Seven Network and the 7plus streaming platform, including the Samoa vs France showdown. Fans traveling abroad can still access their home free-to-air coverage by utilizing a virtual private network such as NordVPN to bypass regional blocks.
International supporters have alternative broadcast options depending on their location. In the United States and Canada, Premier Sports is broadcasting the tournament matches, with full tournament passes and monthly subscription options available. UK fans can tune in via Premier Sports 2, while viewers in New Zealand can watch the action live through Sky Sport NZ channels and the Sky Sport Now streaming service.
The Samoa vs France match kicks off on Friday, October 16, at 5.45pm AEDT local time in Sydney, Australia. This translates to 2.45am ET in the United States and 7.45am BST in the United Kingdom.
How to watch Samoa vs France FREE: Rugby League World Cup 2026 opener live stream
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