The 2023 Rugby World Cup reaches its pinnacle on Saturday October 28th when South Africa play New Zealand in Paris.

Unfortunately, the tournament hasn’t been broadcast on terrestrial public TV in Spain, as rugby isn’t a popular sport in the country.

Don’t worry though, if you’re living or travelling in Spain during this time and want to catch the games, there are different ways you can watch, from your TV at home to games broadcast in bars and pubs. 

Watching the Rugby World Cup final in Spain

Movistar, Spain’s leading TV and internet provider, bought the rights to broadcast the Rugby World Cup in Spain. 

In order to watch all the games, it’s been necessary to subscribe to an additional Deportes package.

However, according to Movistar Plus+ TV schedule, the final between South Africa and New Zealand will be shown on Movistar Plus+’s  #Vamos sports channel (channel 8 and 45) at 9pm Madrid time on Saturday October 28th, without the need to subscribe to the Deportes package. Coverage of the big final will begin at 8.40pm with commentary in Spanish. 

Alternatively, you may want to consider getting a VPN to stream international channels that are airing the final, in France or the UK for example. The paid VPNs are more reliable and offer faster streaming than the free options.

Watching the Rugby World Cup third-place play-off match in Spain

England square off against Argentina at 9pm on Friday October 27th in a battle to claim third spot at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 

If you want to watch it and you already have Movistar Plus+ at home, it will be necessary to subscribe to the additional Deportes package for €19 a month. 

The match can be watched Movistar Plus+’s available-to-all #Vamos sports channel (channel 8 and 45), but this will after the match has finished and in the early hours of Saturday morning at 5.35 am. 

Other places to watch the Ruby World Cup in Spain

If you don’t want to contract your own TV package, there are several other places you can go to watch the games live.

These are typically Irish pubs and sports bars that regularly broadcast live sports games. Below are some of the bars showing the Rugby World Cup, but make sure you check in your part of Spain if there is a pub or sports bar.

Barcelona

If you’re in Barcelona, some of the best places to watch are: 

• The George Payne
• Belushi’s Bar
• The Old Irish Pub
• Flaherty’s Irish Bar
• CocoVail Beer Hall

Madrid

If you’re in Madrid the city’s Irish pubs are the best places to catch a game, but some of the Spanish sports bars will be showing them too. 

• O’Connell
• La Fontana de Oro
• Finnegans
• James Joyce Irish Pub Madrid
• The Irish Rover
• Cervecería Deportiva 

Málaga

• Morrissey’s Irish Pub, Málaga city
• Pat Murphy’s Bar, Torremolinos
• O’Grady’s Irish Pub, Marbella 

Valencia 

• St. Patrick’s Irish Pub
• Saint Martin’s Urban Irish