If the opening round thrillers between the Kiwis and Toa Samoa in the men’s Pacific Cup and the Kiwi Ferns and Fetū Sāmoa in the women’s Pacific Cup are any indication, the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations, once a yawning chasm, is getting narrower and narrower. And the Pacific Championships itself has played a major role in that.
Comprising four parallel tournaments – the men’s and women’s Pacific Cup (the upper competition), and the men’s and women’s Pacific Bowl – this is only the fourth edition of the men’s event and the second edition of the women’s. However, the Pacific Championships has already triggered telling shifts in the balance of power.
Former New Zealand internationals Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili and Jason Taumalolo and former Australia representatives Felise Kaufusi and Daniel Tupou have helped to establish Tonga as a real force, and the same is true for Samoa, who can now call on the talents of former Kiwi Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, former Kangaroo Murray Taulagi, Josh Papalii, Payne Haas and Jeremiah Nanai. A further three Tonga players and five Samoa players have State of Origin experience.
The same pattern is just beginning to emarge in the women’s game, with former Fern Annetta Nu’uausala and former Jillaroo Taliah Fuimaono now turning out for Samoa, and former New Zealand rep Lavinia Tauhalaliku playing for Tonga. Starlets Isaiah Iongi, Isaiya Katoa and Leka Halasima, meanwhile, have opted to represent Tonga right out of the gates, the same being true of Samoa youngsters Blaize Talagi and Deine Mariner.
While it’s deeply disappointing that the Pacific Championships didn’t factor into the thinking of the scheduling team behind Australia’s Ashes series against England, rugby league has never looked healthier in this part of the world.
Read on below for a complete guide to where to watch Pacific Championships 2025 live streams online, on TV and potentially for free.
All 14 games of the Pacific Championships are available to watch for free courtesy of 9Now in Australia.
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch all the action free of charge as if you were right at home. NordVPN is our top pick of the options.
In the US, select 2025 Pacific Championships games are shown live on FOX Soccer Plus, with others shown on tape-delay.
If you don’t have the channel on cable, Fox Soccer Plus is available through the International Sports Plus add-on on Fubo TV. Plans start from $84.99/month after a 7-day FREE trial, though new users get $20 off their first month. The add-on is an additional $6.99.
If you’re traveling outside of the US, you can make use of NordVPN to catch the action.
Every game of the 2025 Pacific Championships is being shown on Sky Sports in the UK, via the Sky Sports Mix channel.
Sky Sports plans start from £35/month or £20 if you’re an existing Sky subscriber. Alternatively, grab a Now Sports subscription from £14.99/day or £34.99/month.
Outside the UK right now? Use NordVPN to access your preferred coverage of the game.
Every game of the 2025 Pacific Championships is free-to-air on 9Nowin Australia.
If you’re currently on holiday outside Oz, you can use NordVPN to access the network’s coverage just like you would at home.
Rugby league fans in Canada can watch the 2025 Pacific Championships on Watch NRL.
A subscription costs £39/month or £143/year.
Men’s Pacific Cup
New Zealand
Samoa
Tonga
Men’s Pacific Bowl
Cook Islands
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Women’s Pacific Cup
Australia
New Zealand
Samoa
Women’s Pacific Bowl
Cook Islands
Papua New Guinea
Tonga
(All times ET)
MEN’S PACIFIC CUP
Sunday, October 19
2.05am – New Zealand vs Samoa
Sunday, October 26
12am – Tonga vs Samoa
Sunday, November 2
12.05am – New Zealand vs Tonga
Sunday, November 9
12.05am – Men’s Pacific Cup final
MEN’S PACIFIC BOWL
Saturday, October 18
1am – Fiji vs Cook Islands
Saturday, October 25
1am – Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands
Saturday, November 1
1am – Papua New Guinea vs Fiji
WOMEN’S PACIFIC CUP
Saturday, October 18
10.35pm – New Zealand vs Samoa
Saturday, October 25
11pm – Australia vs Samoa
Saturday, November 1
9.35pm – New Zealand vs Australia
Saturday, November 8
9.35pm – Women’s Pacific Cup final
WOMEN’S PACIFIC BOWL
Saturday, October 18
1am – Papua New Guinea vs Cook Islands
Friday, October 24
12am – Cook Islands vs Tonga
Friday, October 31
11pm – Papua New Guinea vs Tonga
Of course! Each of the major broadcasters has streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone’s browser.
You can also stay up-to-date with all of the key Pacific Championships moments on the NRL’s official social media channels on TikTok (@NRL), YouTube (@NRL) and Instagram (@NRL).
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If the opening round thrillers between the Kiwis and Toa Samoa in the men’s Pacific Cup and the Kiwi Ferns and Fetū Sāmoa in the women’s Pacific Cup are any indication, the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations, once a yawning chasm, is getting narrower and narrower. And…
