Australia vs. France: Nations Championship Preview and Broadcast Details

The Australia Wallabies face France at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, July 11, 2026, with both teams seeking their first victory of the Nations Championship. Following narrow losses in their respective opening fixtures—Australia to Ireland and France to New Zealand—both sides are under pressure to secure a result. The match kicks off at 5:40 p.m. AEST (8:40 a.m. BST).

Match Context and Team News

Both nations enter this encounter looking to rebound from high-scoring, competitive defeats. Australia narrowly missed a victory against Ireland after a late penalty attempt, while France fell 34-32 to the All Blacks in Christchurch.

Head coach Joe Schmidt faces significant depth challenges at fly-half. With Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson sidelined due to injury, the Wallabies have named Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith to start at number 10. The selection marks a major opportunity for the debutant. Elsewhere, Tom Wright returns to the starting XV at full-back, replacing Jock Campbell.

France, managed by Fabien Galthié, has rotated the squad significantly. The lineup features six personnel changes and two positional shifts compared to the loss in New Zealand. Romain Ntamack returns to the starting side at fly-half, with Matthieu Jalibert moving to full-back. The pack features a revamped lock partnership of Florian Verhaeghe and Emmanuel Meafou.

Broadcast Information and Live Streaming

Viewers can access the match through various regional broadcasters. Coverage availability depends on local licensing agreements.

| Region | Broadcaster / Service |
| :— | :— |
| Australia | 9Go!, 9Now (Free) |
| France | TF1, TF1+ (Free) |
| United Kingdom | ITV1, ITVX (Free) |
| Ireland | Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Play (Free) |
| United States | RugbyPass TV (Free) |
| South Africa | SuperSport |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport |

In Australia, 9Now provides free coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. AEST. UK viewers can access the match via ITVX, which requires registration and a valid TV Licence. Fans in the United States can stream the event for free through World Rugby’s official platform, RugbyPass TV, following a registration process.

Using VPNs for International Access

Fans currently traveling outside their home broadcast region may experience geo-blocking on local streaming services. According to technology analysts at TechRadar and Tom’s Guide, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can allow users to access their domestic streaming platforms by masking their IP address.

When utilizing a VPN, viewers should ensure they comply with the terms and conditions of their specific streaming service. The use of a VPN is intended for security and privacy, or for accessing content from one’s home country while traveling.

Match Officials

The match will be officiated by English referee Karl Dickson. He will be assisted by Christophe Ridley, also of England, and Japan’s Katsuki Furuse. The Television Match Official (TMO) for the fixture is Andrew Jackson of England.