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SPORT

How you can watch the Rugby World Cup final on TV in Spain

If you’re a rugby fan in Spain, there are several ways you can watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and the All Blacks on Saturday, and the third-place play-off between England and Argentina on Friday.

Published: 18 September 2023 16:02 CEST
Updated: 27 October 2023 08:58 CEST
How you can watch the Rugby World Cup final on TV in Spain
South Africa's wing Kurt-Lee Arendse (L) and New Zealand's centre Rieko Ioane during the pre-World Cup Rugby Union match between New Zealand and South Africa in August 2023. Here's how to watch them play the 2023 Rugby World Cup final from Spain. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP)

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

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CULTURE

The best new Spanish TV series to binge-watch

Looking to improve your language skills while getting hooked on the most engrossing Spanish TV shows? Here are the most bingeable made-in-Spain series from 2023 and 2024 to watch on TV or stream.

Published: 7 May 2024 10:33 CEST
The best new Spanish TV series to binge-watch

The Asunta Case

A true-crime-inspired story on Netflix, the Asunta Case was just released at the end of April, but already has some fans. It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who goes missing and the search to find her. Soon, the trail leads to her adoptive parents, who are accused of being involved with her disappearance and the story takes an even darker turn. 

Berlín

A spin-off of the highly successful Casa de Papel or Money Heist in English. It follows one of the characters, Berlín and is a kind of prequel in that it tells the story of his criminal career before we get to know him in Casa de Papel. It takes place in Paris, where a gang of endearing Spanish criminals, led by Berlín, make a plan to steal €44 million worth of precious jewels. Some fans complained that Casa de Papel dragged on too long and got a bit ridiculous towards the end, but have been very enthusiastic about this one.

Cristóbal Balenciaga

Poligots will enjoy this new series from Disney+, which is originally in Spanish, Basque and French. It tells the story of world-famous Basque fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and how he aims to present his first haute couture collection in Paris. It stars Spanish actor Alberto San Juan as the lead role, but international audiences will more than likely recognise Gemma Whelan who played Yara Greyjoy in the hit series Game of Thrones.

La Mesías

Spanish newspaper El Diario named La Mesías as its top series for 2023, beating a total of 43 it reviewed. It’s showing on Movistar+ and is part thriller and part drama. It tells the tale of Enric who had a traumatic childhood controlled by his overly religious mother and whose life is heavily impacted by a viral video of a Christian pop band made up of five sisters.

Machos Alfa

Translated as Alpha Males in English, this Netflix series first came out at the end of 2022, but the second season recently premiered in February 2024. It’s a comedy, following a group of four friends in their 40s who start to feel lost in this new society of feminists and empowered women and start to question their masculinity and the way they should act with women. 

Las Noches de Tefía

Created by Miguel del Arco, who co-wrote and co-directed the series, Las Noches de Tefía is available on ATRESPlayer PREMIUM. It’s set inside a Francoist concentration camp on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, a place where vagabonds, protestors of the regime, and homosexuals are sent.

El Inmortal

El Inmortal is available on Movistar+ and first came out in 2022. It was renewed for a second season which was recently released at the end of February 2024. It takes place in the 90s, during the time when gangs controlled Madrid’s nightclub scene and were involved in cocaine trafficking. The story follows Los Miamis a criminal organisation led by José Antonio, better known as El Inmortal, who becomes one of the city’s most successful drug lords. It’s based on the real life Los Miami gang and their leader Juan Carlos Peña.

Déjate Ver 

This Spanish and Catalan series available on Atresplayer was called “the hidden gem of the year” by newspaper El Diario and is a quirky comedy about Ana, an artist’s assistant who who has begun to disappear. After receiving a diagnosis from the doctor she realises that if she doesn’t want to continue disappearing she must completely change her life around.

Nacho

Another from Atresplayer, Nacho reveals the secrets of the Spanish porn industry during the 90s. It’s set in Barcelona and follows title character Nacho, from his religious upbringing to his rise, becoming one of the most recognisable and influential figures in the adult film industry in the country. It’s based on the real life story of Ignacio Jordà González, better known as Nacho Vidal, one of Spain’s most famous pornographic actors and directors.

Los Farad

Set in Marbella during the 80s, Los Farad follows Oskar, a young man with the dream of setting up his own gym. It stars Miguel Herrán, who was also in two of the most popular Spanish series in recent years – Money Heist and Elite. He’s given the opportunity to come into some money by going to live with his girlfriend’s family in the Costa del Sol, but in return has to be part of the family business, which turns out is somewhat akin to the mafia. It’s available on Amazon Prime and first came out in December 2023. 

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