 | |||
| Nickname | All Blacks | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Emblem | Silver fern | ||
| Union | New Zealand Rugby | ||
| Head coach | Scott Robertson | ||
| Captain | Scott Barrett | ||
| Mostcaps | Sam Whitelock (153) | ||
| Top scorer | Dan Carter (1,598) | ||
| Top try scorer | Doug Howlett (49) | ||
| |||
| World Rugby ranking | |||
| Current | 2 (as of 6 October 2025) | ||
| Highest | 1 (2003, 2004–2008, 2009–2019, 2021, 2025) | ||
| Lowest | 5 (2022) | ||
| First international | |||
 Australia 3–22New Zealand  (Sydney, Australia; 15 August 1903) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
New Zealand 145–17Japan  (Bloemfontein, South Africa; 4 June 1995) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
New Zealand 10–43South Africa  (Wellington, New Zealand; 13 September 2025) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 10 (first in1987) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1987,2011,2015) | ||
| Tri Nations/Rugby Championship | |||
| Appearances | 30 | ||
| Best result | Champions (1996,1997,1999,2002,2003,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010,2012,2013,2014,2016,2017,2018,2020,2021,2022,2023) | ||
| Website | allblacks.com | ||
TheNew Zealand national rugby union team, known as theAll Blacks (Māori:Ōpango[ɔːpaŋɔ]),[1] represents New Zealand inrugby union, which is considered the country'snational sport.[2] Famed for their international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.[3][4]
The team won theRugby World Cup in1987,2011, and2015. They were the first country to retain the Rugby World Cup. Since their international debut in 1903, the All Blacks have playedtest matches against 19 nations, of which 12 have never won a game against the team. New Zealand has a 76 per cent winning record in test match rugby, and has recorded more wins than losses against every international opponent. Since the introduction of theWorld Rugby Rankings in 2003, New Zealand has held the number-one ranking longer than all other teams combined.[5] They jointly hold the men's record for the most consecutive test match wins for a tier-one ranked nation, along withEngland, with the overall record being held bythe Red Roses.
The All Blacks compete withArgentina,Australia andSouth Africa inthe Rugby Championship, and have won the trophy twenty times in the competition's thirty–year history. The team has completed aGrand Slam tour against the fourHome Nations four times (1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010). World Rugby has named New Zealand theWorld Rugby Team of the Year ten times since the award was initiated in 2001,[6] and an All Black has won theWorld Rugby Player of the Year award ten times over the same period. Nineteen former All Blacks have been inducted into theWorld Rugby Hall Of Fame.
The team's first match took place in 1884 in New South Wales and their first international test match in 1903 against Australia in Sydney. The following year New Zealand hosted their first home test, a match against a British Isles side inWellington.[a] There followed a 34–gametour of Europe and North America in 1905 (which included five test matches), where New Zealand suffered only one defeat: their first test loss, againstWales.
New Zealand's early uniforms consisted of a black jersey with a silver fern and white shorts. By the 1905 tour they were wearing all black, except for the silver fern, and the name "All Blacks" dates from this time.
The team perform ahaka before every match; this is aMāori challenge or posture dance. Traditionally the All Blacks useTe Rauparaha's hakaKa Mate, although players have also performedKapa o Pango since 2005.
Rugby union, known almost universally in New Zealand as just "rugby", was introduced to the nation byCharles Monro in 1870;[7] he had discovered the sport while completing his studies atChrist's College in Finchley, England.[8] The first recorded game in New Zealand took place in May 1870 in the city ofNelson, between the Nelson rugby club and Nelson College.[9] The first provincial union, theCanterbury Rugby Football Union, was formed in 1879,[10] and New Zealand's first internationals were played in 1882 when the "Waratahs" from New South Wales toured the country.[11] The Australian team did not face a New Zealand national team but played seven provincial sides; the tourists won four games and lost three.[12] Two years later, the first New Zealand team to travel overseas toured New South Wales, winning all eight of their games.[13]
A privately organised British team, which later became theBritish & Irish Lions, toured New Zealand in 1888. The visitors only played provincial sides and notest matches were played.[14] Wales and Scotland were represented in the British team, but the players were drawn mainly from Northern England.[15]
In 1892, following the canvassing of provincial administrators byErnest Hoben, theNew Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) was formed by the majority of New Zealand's provincial unions, but did not include Canterbury,Otago orSouthland.[16][b] The first officially sanctioned New Zealand sidetoured New South Wales in 1893, where theThomas Ellison captained team won nine of their ten matches.[17][18] The following year New Zealand played its first home "international" game, losing 6–8 to New South Wales.[c][19] The team's first true test match occurred againstAustralia on 15 August 1903 at theSydney Cricket Ground in front of over 30,000 spectators and resulted in a 22–3 victory.[20]
A representative New Zealand team first toured the British Isles in 1905. The side is now known as the "Originals", as the "All Blacks" name emerged during this tour when, according to team memberBilly Wallace, a London newspaper reported that the New Zealanders played as if they were "all backs".[21] Wallace claimed that because of a typographical error, subsequent references were to "All Blacks". This account is most likely a myth: because of their black playing strip, the side was probably referred to as theBlacks before they left New Zealand. Even though the name All Blacks most likely existed before the trip, the tour did popularise it.[21]
The Originals played 35 matches on tour, winning all but their 0–3 defeat to Wales inCardiff,[22]. That game became known asThe match of the Century, and has entered into the folklore of both countries.[23][d] In contrast to the success of the Originals on the field, the team did antagonise some in theHome Nations' rugby establishment; both administrators and the press complained that the All Blacks did not play the game within the amateur and gentlemanly spirit promoted by theInternational Rugby Football Board. This complaint continued to dog New Zealand teams until the 1930s.[24]
The success of the Originals had uncomfortable consequences for the amateur NZRFU. In 1907, a party of professional players was assembled to tour the British Isles and playrugby league – a professional offshoot of rugby union that was played by clubs that split from England'sRugby Football Union (RFU) due to disagreements over financial compensation for players.[25] When the "All Golds", as the team came to be known, returned they establishedrugby league in New Zealand, and a large number of players switched to the professional code.[25][26] English and Welsh authorities were alarmed by the threat of professionalism to rugby in New Zealand, and in 1908 an Anglo-Welsh side undertook a tour to New Zealand to help promote the amateur values[e] under which they believed sport should be played.[28][29][f] The tourists were defeated 2–0 in the three-test series by New Zealand, but the Anglo-Welsh did manage to draw the second test 3–3.[30]
International rugby was suspended during the First World War,[31] but aNew Zealand Services team did compete in inter-services competition known as the King's Cup.[32] After their departure from Europe the side toured South Africa before their return to New Zealand, and that tour paved the way for aSouth African team to tour New Zealand in 1921.[33] The Springboks – as the South African team is known – played New Zealand in a test series that endedall square. New Zealand conducted a return tour to South Africa in 1928, and the test series was again drawn; both teams winning two tests each.[34]
The 1924 All Black tourists to the British Isles and France were dubbed "the Invincibles" because they won every game. However, the team was deprived of a potentialgrand slam when Scotland refused to play them because they were upset the tour was organised through the RFU rather than the IRFB.[35][36] The first British Isles side since 1908 toured New Zealand in 1930. Although the Lions won the first test, the home side regrouped and went on to win the series 3–1.[37] New Zealand toured the British Isles again in 1935–36, losing only three games – including two tests – during a 30-match tour.[38] In one of these losses,Alexander Obolensky famously scored two tries to help England to a 13–0 win; their first over New Zealand.[39]
In 1937, South Africa toured New Zealand and decisively won the test series despite losing the first test; this1937 South African team was described as the best team ever to leave New Zealand.[40][41] It was not until 1949 that New Zealand next played the Springboks when theytoured South Africa withFred Allen as captain.[42][43] Although each test against South Africa was very close, New Zealand lost the series 0–4.[44] As part of this 25-match, 4-test series, an All Blacks 'second string' side[45] travelled up to Southern Rhodesia (nowZimbabwe) to face theRhodesia representative side in two non-Test Internationals. The result of thefirst match saw Rhodesia run out winners, 10–8. Three days later, the second match resulted in a 3–3 draw. Two of the Rhodesian players were later capped for South Africa (being eligible due to Rhodesia's treatment as a province ofSouth Africa, for rugby reasons) in the All Blacks second test of the tour. No International caps were awarded to either side for these two matches.[46][47]
At the same time as an All Black team was touring South Africa, Australia were touring New Zealand.[48] The two tours coincided becauseMāori players were not able to go to South Africa at the time due to apartheid (the All Black team in South Africa refused to do the haka in protest), meaning the Australians played against a New Zealand team made up of the best Māori and the reserve non-Māori players, while the South Africans encountered the bestpākehā (white) players.[49][g] On the afternoon of 3 September New Zealand, captained byJohnny Smith, were beaten 6–11 by Australia in Wellington.[51] New Zealand then lost their second test 9–16, giving Australia aBledisloe Cup series win in New Zealand for the first time.[48][49] 1949 was anannus horribilis for the All Blacks as they lost all six of their test matches, and the experience of playing two test series simultaneously has not been repeated.[48][52]
The two consecutive series losses to South Africa made their1956 tour of New Zealand highly anticipated. New Zealand were captained by Bob Duff and coached byBob Stuart, and their 3–1 series win was their first over the Springboks and the Springboks' first series loss that century.[53] During the series, New Zealand introducedDon Clarke, and brought propKevin Skinner out of retirement to help secure the win.[54] Skinner, a former New Zealand boxing champion, had retired from international rugby, but was convinced to return for the third and fourth tests.[55] One reason for Skinner's selection was to "sort out" the South African props, while Clarke become known as "The Boot" for his goal kicking.[56]
New Zealand's 3–1 series win over the Lions in 1959 proved to be the start of a dominant period in All Black rugby.[57] This was followed by the 1963–64 tour to Britain and Ireland, led byWilson Whineray, in which New Zealand were deprived of a Grand Slam by a scoreless draw with Scotland.[58] The only loss on this tour was toNewport RFC, who won 3–0 atRodney Parade,Newport on 30 October 1963.[59] The1967 side won three tests against the home nations, but was unable to playIreland because of afoot-and-mouth scare.[58] This tour formed part of New Zealand's longest winning streak, between 1965 and 1970, of 17 test victories.[60] This was also the longest test winning streak by any nation at the time; it was equalled by the Springboks in 1998, and surpassed byLithuania in 2010.[61][h]
NZ then lostthe 1970 away series in South Africa. Although the 1966 Lions had been defeated 0–4 in their New Zealand tour, there was a reversal of fortune five years later when the1971 Lions, under the captaincy of WelshmanJohn Dawes, beat New Zealand in a test series, which remains the Lions' only series victory in New Zealand.[62]
The 1972–3 tourists narrowly missed a Grand Slam with a draw against Ireland.[58] The tour was notable for the sending home of prop Keith Murdoch, who was alleged to have been involved in a brawl in aCardiff hotel while celebrating the defeat of Wales.[63]
In 1978,Graham Mourie captained New Zealand to their first Grand Slam, including a 13–12 victory over Wales. That game generated controversy after New Zealand won as the result of a late penalty. LockAndy Haden had dived out of aline-out in an attempt to earn a penalty, but referee Roger Quittenden insisted the penalty was against Welsh lockGeoff Wheel for jumping off the shoulder ofFrank Oliver.[64] New Zealand's only loss on the tour was the famous 12–0 defeat by Irish provinceMunster atThomond Park.[65] A play that focused on the loss was later written byJohn Breen, calledAlone it Stands.[66]
For the1960 All Blacks tour of South Africa, the South African authorities insisted that Maori players be excluded from the team. The subsequent controversy led to the New Zealand Rugby Union refusing any other tour of the country for the following 10 years until the1970 tour, whenMaori players were accepted as "honorary whites".[67][68]
The1976 All Blacks tour of apartheid South Africa generated much controversy and led to the boycott of the1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal by 33 African nations after theIOC refused to ban the team.[69][70] New Zealand again failed to win the test series in South Africa, and did not secure another series victory until 1996, after the fall ofapartheid and the introduction of neutral referees. The 1976 tour contributed to theGleneagles Agreement being adopted by the Commonwealth Heads of State in 1977.[71]
The1981 South African tour to New Zealand sparkeda protest movement against South Africa's apartheid policy; this type of protest had not been seen in New Zealand since the1951 waterfront dispute.[72][73] The NZRU had invited the Springboks to tour because theMuldoon government refused to involve politics in sport.[74] Although New Zealand won the test series, two of the tour's provincial games were cancelled and the whole tour was marred by violence and protest.[75] The third and final test match of the tour is sometimes known as the Flour Bomb test, as an anti-apartheid activist in a Cessna light aircraft dropped leaflets, flares, a parachute-supported banner reading "Biko", and flour bombs, into Auckland'sEden Park throughout the match, felling a New Zealand player. The country experienced unrest during the tour, which had a significant impact on New Zealand society.[72][75][76]
The 1985 All Blacks tour to South Africa was cancelled afterlegal action on the grounds that it would breach the NZRU's constitution.[76] In 1986, a rebel tour to South Africa took place that had not been authorised by the NZRU and the team, named theCavaliers, included many All Blacks.[77][78] Those that participated in the tour received a ban for two tests from the NZRU when they returned to New Zealand. Allegations that players received payment for the tour were never proved.[79]
New Zealand hosted and won theinaugural World Cup in 1987 beatingFrance 29–9 in thefinal. New Zealand conceded only 52 points and scored 43 tries in six games en route to the title, beatingItaly,Fiji,Argentina, Scotland, Wales and France.[80]
The All Blacks suffered a dual blow in early-mid 1990. Undisputed test fullbackJohn Gallagher switched codes and signed to play withEnglishrugby league clubLeeds. This came after his1989 tour understudyMatthew Ridge had signed to play rugby league with Sydney-based clubManly-Warringah less than a week earlier. Around this time union also lost other goal-kicking All Blacks to rugby league includingJohn Schuster (Newcastle Knights in Australia),Frano Botica (English clubWigan) andKurt Sherlock (Sydney clubEastern Suburbs). New Zealand rugby also lostWaikato goal kicking fullbackDaryl Halligan who signed to play league for theNorth Sydney Bears. As it turned out, they were also very close to losingZinzan Brooke who was set to join Ridge at Manly when (according to Ridge) a personal dispute between the two saw Brooke back out on a signed contract with Manly (allegedly worthAU$100,000 per season) to stay in rugby union.[81]
By the1991 World Cup New Zealand were an ageing side,[82] co-coached byAlex Wyllie andJohn Hart. After beating hosts England in the tournament opener, they struggled during pool matches against theUnited States and Italy, and won their quarter-final againstCanada.[83] They were then knocked out by eventual winners Australia 16–6 in their semi-final atLansdowne Road. In the wake of the tournament, there were many retirements, including coach Wyllie, who had enjoyed an 86 per cent win rate during 29 tests in charge.[84]
Laurie Mains replaced Wyllie in 1992, and was given the job of preparing the side for the1995 event in South Africa. New Zealand were again one of the favourites to take the championship. Their status as favourites was enhanced when a youngJonah Lomu scored four tries against England in the 45–29 semi-final win.[85][86] They managed to take hosts South Africa to extra time in the final, before losing 12–15 toJoel Stransky'sdrop goal.[87][88]
The professional era in rugby union began in 1995, spurred by creation of theSANZAR group (a combination of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia)[89] which was formed with the purpose of selling broadcast rights for two new competitions, the domesticSuper 12 competition and the Tri-Nations.[89] The first Tri-Nations was contested in 1996, with New Zealand winning all four of their tests to take the trophy.[90] After a 1996 Tri-Nations match hosted by South Africa, won 29–18 by New Zealand,[91] preceded a separate three-match test series between the two sides.[92] Under new coachJohn Hart and the captaincy ofSean Fitzpatrick, New Zealand won a test series in South Africa for the first time.[93] Fitzpatrick rated the series win higher than the 1987 World Cup victory in which he had participated.[93]
The next three seasons saw mixed results for New Zealand, who won all their Tri-Nations tests in 1997 before losing the title for the first time in 1998.[94] In 1998 New Zealand lost all five tests in the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup series (two to South Africa and three to Australia), the first time they had lost four tests in succession since 1949.[95] The following year they suffered their worst test loss, 7–28 to Australia in Sydney.[96] At the1999 World Cup later that year, the All Blacks dominated their pool, handing England a 16–30 defeat atTwickenham. They advanced past Scotland 30–18 in the quarter-finals to play France at Twickenham. After New Zealand finished the first half 17–10 ahead,[96] France then produced a famous half of rugby to which New Zealand had no answer, winning 43–31.[96] Hart subsequently resigned as coach and was replaced by co-coachesWayne Smith and Tony Gilbert.
Under Smith and Gilbert, New Zealand came second in the 2000 and 2001 Tri-Nations, and in neither season did the side reclaim the Bledisloe Cup – which had been lost in 1998. Both coaches were replaced byJohn Mitchell on 3 October 2001, and he went on to coach New Zealand to victory in both the 2002 and 2003 Tri-Nations, as well as regaining the Bledisloe Cup in 2003. Mitchell's abrasive personal manner and management style, together with his coaching techniques, were the subject of some controversy both at the time and subsequently.[97] Despite losing to England earlier in the year, the All Blacks entered the2003 World Cup as one of the favourites and dominated their pool, running up wins against Italy, Canada andTonga, before winning one of the most competitive matches of the tournament against Wales.[98] They defeated South Africa in their quarter-final, a team they had never beaten at the World Cup, 29–9, but lost to Australia 10–22 in the semi-final in Sydney. Following the team's lacklustre showing in the tournament, the NZRU terminated Mitchell's contract[99] and installedGraham Henry as national coach.[100]
Graham Henry's tenure as coach began with a double victory over 2003 Rugby World Cup winners England in 2004. The two games had an aggregate score of 72–15, and England were kept try-less.[101][102] Despite the winning start to Henry's tenure, the Tri-Nations was a mixed success with two wins and two losses. The competition was the closest ever, bonus points decided the outcome, and New Zealand finishing last.[i][103] The 2004 season finished with three wins in Europe, including a record 45–6 victory over France under new captain and outside centreTana Umaga.[104][105]
2005 saw New Zealand host the touringBritish & Irish Lions, steered by World Cup-winning English coachClive Woodward, and featuring a number of Northern Hemisphere stars includingJonny Wilkinson. New Zealand won all three games easily, with a young Dan Carter turning in a masterclass in the second test. The series was marred by an incident in the first test after the Lions captain, Irish centreBrian O'Driscoll, was upended in an aggressive clearout by Tana Umaga andKeven Mealamu. O'Driscoll suffered a dislocated shoulder and missed the rest of the tour as a result. Match footage was inconclusive at the time, and both Umaga and Mealamu escaped serious sanction.[106] O'Driscoll and the Lions management maintained it was a deliberatespear tackle,[107] and the controversy both tainted the All Blacks' series victory and continued for some years afterward.[108]
That same year, they also won the Tri-Nations, and achieved a second Grand Slam over the Home Nations for the first time since 1978. They went on to sweep the major IRB (now World Rugby)awards in which they were named: Team of the Year, Henry was named Coach of the Year, and first five-eighthDan Carter was Player of the Year.[6] New Zealand were nominated for theLaureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year in 2006 for their 2005 performance.[109] The following year they again took the Tri-Nations Series after winning their first five matches, three against Australia and two against South Africa. They lost their final match of the series against South Africa. They completed their end of year tour unbeaten, with record away wins over France, England and Wales.[110] New Zealand were named 2006 IRB Team of the Year and were nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for the second time, while flanker and newly appointed captainRichie McCaw was named IRB Player of the Year for the first time.[6][109][111]
The 2007 season started off with twomid-year tests against France. New Zealand won the tests 42–11 at Eden Park and 61–10 at Westpac Stadium. A third game, against Canada, resulted in a 64–13 win, although the game was more competitive than the scoreline indicated.[112] New Zealand's firstTri-Nations game of 2007 was against the Springboks in Durban, South Africa. New Zealand scored two tries in the final fifteen minutes of the game to win 26–21.[113] The following week against the Wallabies at theMelbourne Cricket Ground the Wallabies upset New Zealand to win 20–15.[114] The All Blacks won their following home games to successfully defend the Tri-Nations Series for 2007.[115][116] New Zealand entered the2007 Rugby World Cup as favourites,[117] and topped their pool,[118] beating Scotland, Italy, Romania and Portugal by at least 40 points. However, they then suffered a defeat by hosts France in the quarter-finals in Cardiff.[119] Following the loss to France coach Graham Henry's job was reappointed amid vocal debate and comment, despiteRobbie Deans being a strong contender.[120]
The 2008 season started with threemid-year tests against Ireland and England, all of which New Zealand won.[121] New Zealand played their firstTri-Nations game against South Africa in Wellington, winning 19–8, but a week later atCarisbrook in Dunedin they lost to South Africa 28–30, ending a 30-match winning streak at home.[122] New Zealand played their next Tri-Nations match on 26 July against Australia in Sydney, losing 19–34 but a week later against Australia in New Zealand won 39–10.[121] They then beat South Africa 19–0 atNewlands Stadium.[123] New Zealand played their final match on 13 September against Australia atSuncorp Stadium inBrisbane winning 28–24 and retaining the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations.[124]
The All Blacks opened the 2009 season with a 22–27 loss to France at Carisbrook, but defeated them 14–10 in Wellington a week later. On points difference, France won the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time. A week later the All Blacks defeated Italy 27–6 in Christchurch. They finished second in theTri-Nations Series, behind South Africa who lost only one game, and ended the series with a 33–6 win over Australia in Wellington.[125]
In 2010, the All Blacks won the Tri-Nations Series for the tenth time after three successive victories against South Africa,[126] and won the Bledisloe Cup after consecutive victories against Australia.[127] An undefeated streak in tests that began in 2009 reached 15 matches.[128] Despite losing the 2011 Tri-Nations after a loss to Australia in Brisbane,[129] they still entered the2011 Rugby World Cup as one of the favourites.[130] The All Blacks went through their pool matches undefeated, and after defeating Argentina, and then Australia, faced France in the final. New Zealand scored one try and a penalty to narrowly win 8–7.[131] Henry stepped down as coach following the World Cup, and was replaced as head coach by his assistantSteve Hansen.[132]
The Tri-Nations was expanded to include Argentina in 2012, and subsequently renamed The Rugby Championship. The All Blacks went undefeated in the inaugural tournament, and went through the year unbeaten until their last match of the year, where they lost to England at Twickenham. In 2013 New Zealand hosted France in a three-match series – their first meeting since the 2011 World Cup final. They won all three tests, before going unbeaten in the2013 Rugby Championship.[133] In November 2013, New Zealand became the first rugby nation in the professional era to achieve a 100 per cent record in a calendar year.[134]
At the2014 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks drew with Australia and lost to South Africa in the away matches, but won the other four matches and the tournament. At the shortened2015 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks lost to Australia and was runner-up in the competition. They did, however achieve a significant return victory in the second Bledisloe test that year to retain the trophy. The team entered the2015 Rugby World Cup and again went undefeated in their pool matches. They defeated France 62–13 in the quarter-finals, South Africa 20–18 in the semi-finals, and Australia 34–17 in thefinal to become the first nation to retain the World Championship title and the first to win theRugby World Cup three times.[135]
The All Blacks went undefeated at the2016 Rugby Championship, claiming bonus points at each match, under new captain and Number 8, Kieran Read and vice-captain and fullback Ben Smith. Smith and wing Israel Dagg were also the joint highest try scorers in the competition with five each, while fly-halfBeauden Barrett was the highest points scorer of the competition with 81 in total.[136] The autumn of 2016 witnessed an historic defeat, with the All Blacks enduring their first ever loss to Ireland after 111 years of competition,[137] going down by 29–40 atSoldier Field in Chicago. New Zealand redeemed the loss by defeating Ireland in Dublin in the return game two weeks later, by 21–9.[138]
In 2017, theBritish & Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the second time in the professional era. The series finished in a draw, with the All Blacks and Lions recording 1–1–1. The All Blacks had won the first test 30–15, the Lions took the second test 24–21, and the final test was drawn 15–15. Like the 2005 tour, this Lions series was dogged by controversy, with the Lions' tactics (under expat Kiwi CoachWarren Gatland),[139] the tone of local media coverage,[140] the Red Card awarded to Sonny Bill Williams in the second test[141] and the refereeing of French officials Romain Poite and Jerome Garces[142] all hotly debated. The drawn series, combined with the loss to Ireland to previous year led some in the media to claim that the team were on the slide, and that the Northern Hemisphere sides were catching up.[143] However they went on to go undefeated in the Rugby Championship 2017 season and also securing the Bledisloe Cup against rivals Australia after defeating the Aussies twice in the Rugby Championship. In October, New Zealand suffered a surprise 18–23 loss to Australia, in the final Bledisloe game of the year atSuncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The autumn saw the All Blacks defeat aBarbarians team 32–21, France 38–18, Scotland 22–17 and Wales 33–18 to end the 2017 season.[144]
At the start of the 2018 season, the All Blacks saw off a touring French side in a 3–0 series victory, and won their first games of theRugby Championship against Australia by 38–13 and 40–12 to keep the Bledisloe Cup for another year. Another easy win against Argentina by 46–24 followed, however the All Blacks were subsequently beaten at home in Wellington by South Africa for the first time since 2009, losing by 34–36 in a tightly contested game,[145] before again beating Argentina by 35–17. In the return match against South Africa in Pretoria, the All Blacks trailed for much of the game but produced a thrilling comeback late the second half to win by 32–30.[146] They went on to post another crushing win over Australia by 37–20 in Yokohama, to confirm a Bledisloe whitewash for the year.[147] A development side was left behind to pummelJapan 69–31, while the first team travelled to Europe for the autumn internationals. That series proved a relatively difficult one for the All Blacks, with a single-point victory over England (16–15) in a very closely fought test,[148] followed by a second-ever loss to Ireland by 9–16 in a cauldron atmosphere at theAviva Stadium in Dublin.[149] They went on to thrash Italy by 66–3 to finish their season with a win.[150]
2019 was a mixed year for the All Blacks, starting their campaign with an unconvincing 16 - 20 win over a tough Argentine side, and a 16 all draw against the Springboks. However, the next week they were given their joint worst loss in their history, once again to the Wallabies, 26 - 47, after Scott Barrett was sent off. They got back on track, showcasing the form they have been in the past years, with a 36 - 0 shutout in their rematch at Eden Park to retain the Bledisloe Cup, and finished their season with a 92 - 7 pummelling against Tonga.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup saw New Zealand face off against South Africa. They won, 23 - 13 in Yokohama, then notched wins up on Canada and Namibia, scoring a total of 135 points in the 2 games. In the quarter-final, they faced off against Ireland in Chofu, dominating from start to finish and prevailing 46 - 14. The team's run ended in the semi-finals with a 7 - 19 loss to England in Yokohama, which ended their chances of a third consecutive world title, or "three-peat". This was the team's first World Cup defeat in 20 matches stretching back over twelve years. New Zealand finished their campaign with a 40 - 17 win over Wales in Chofu to claim the bronze medal. Hansen retired after the World Cup, along with many All Blacks veterans, most notably captain Kieran Read, Owen Franks and Ben Smith. Ian Foster was appointed as the new All Blacks coach.
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Rugby Championship was cancelled. Instead, a Tri-Nations revival tournament was held from October to December 2020.[151] Two warm-upBledisloe Cup matches were held before that, the first was a (16–16) draw inWellington and the second a (27–7) win inAuckland.[152][153] They then travelled over to Australia for the Tri-Nations, where they opened by securing the Bledisloe Cup with a (43–5) victory overAustralia inSydney but going on to lose to them a week later (22–24) inBrisbane.[154][155] The All Blacks lost a week later toArgentina (15–25) inParramatta which was their first ever defeat to the Los Pumas and the first time they had lost back-to-back test matches since 2011.[156] Thanks to a 38–0 win against Argentina two weeks later inNewcastle, the All Blacks won theTri-Nations.[157][158] They ended the 2020 season with three wins, two losses and a draw.
2021
The All Blacks opened their 2021 campaign by easily defeating Tonga (102–0) in Auckland,[159] followed by two wins against Fiji (57–23) inDunedin and (60–13) inHamilton.[160][161] They opened their Bledisloe Cup campaign by defeating Australia atEden Park (33–25).[162] The All Blacks then went onto defeat the Wallabies 2 more times, (57–22) at Eden Park again and (38–21) inPerth to retain the Bledisloe Cup.[163][164] They defeated Argentina twice by comfortable margins, (39–0) in theGold Coast and (36–13) in Brisbane.[165][166] AgainstSouth Africa, their record was split (1-1), with New Zealand winning in the 100th Test Match between the two countries in a historic (19–17) victory inTownsville,[167] with the Springboks winning a week later by (29–31) in the Gold Coast.[168] They retained theFreedom Cup and they went on to win theRugby Championship and finish the competition with a (5–1) record. In their first Northern Hemisphere Tour since 2018, the All Blacks played five matches and finished with a record of (3–2). They defeated theUnited States (104–14),[169]Wales (54–16)[170] andItaly (47–9),[171] and then went onto lose two matches in a row againstIreland (20–29)[172] andFrance (25–40),[173] to finish the season (12–3). The back to back losses against Ireland and France was the first time since 1998 that they finished their season with 2 straight defeats in consecutive weeks.
2022
In July 2022, the All Blacks hosted Ireland to a3-Test Match Series. In the first game the All Blacks defeated Ireland (42–19), before losing to them in the second game (12–23) and third game (22–32).[174] It was the first time that Ireland had beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand, with two consecutive wins in a row and across a Test series. This also marked the third straight season that the All Blacks lost back to back test matches and this led them to make changes in their coaching setup.[175] They opened theirRugby Championship campaign with a loss to the Springboks inMbombela (10–26),[176] their third consecutive loss. They then rallied back the following week with a win atEllis Park (35–23) to retain the Freedom Cup.[177] They lost to Argentina (18–25)[178] for the first time in New Zealand, before bouncing back with a (53–3) victory a week later.[179] They then defeated Australia in a controversial and much debated (39–37) win, thus retaining the Bledisloe Cup.[180] The All Blacks went on to defeat the Wallabies again (40–14) at Eden Park in Auckland.[181] In their End Of Year Northern Tour, they defeatedJapan (38–31),[182] Wales (55–23),[183]Scotland (31–23)[184] but drew againstEngland (25–25).[185] The All Blacks finished with eight wins, four losses and one draw. It was their worst win/loss record since the 1998 season.
2023
In 2023, the All Blacks won the shortened version of theRugby Championship (due to the World Cup) by defeating Argentina (41–12), South Africa (35–20), and Australia (38–7).[186] They also kept the Freedom Cup for another year after beating the Springboks and had wrapped up the Bledisloe for another year after defeating the Wallabies (23–20) in the 2nd Bledisloe game which was a test match outside the Rugby Championship.[187] In a warm up game atTwickenham Stadium inLondon, the All Blacks lost to the Springboks (7–35), which became their worst ever defeat in their 120-year history.[188] At the2023 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks tasted their first ever defeat in the pool stages when they were beaten by the host nation France (13–27).[189] They defeated all the other teams in their pool,Namibia (71–3), Italy (96–17),Uruguay (73–0), to qualify for the quarter–finals.[190] They defeated Ireland in the quarters (28–24),[191] beat Argentina (44–6) in the semi–final,[192] but lost to the Springboks (11–12), who became the first nation to win four World Cups, in the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup tournament.[193] They ended their season with a record of nine wins and three losses. This marked the end of the Ian Foster era.
On March 21, 2023,Scott Robertson was named as All Blacks Head Coach from 2024.[194] After the conclusion of the2023 Rugby World Cup tournament, Robertson commenced the role of head coach from November 1, 2023.[195]
2024
Robertson's first game as head coach took place againstEngland in 2024. Robertson's All Blacks team defeated England (16–15) atForsyth Barr Stadium, inDunedin.[196] A week later inEden Park, inAuckland, the All Blacks defeated England again (24–17).[197] The All Blacks then travelled toSan Diego,California, to faceFiji and defeated them (47–5).[198] In the2024 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks compiled a 3–3 record as they struggled and were outscored in the last 20 minutes in 5 of the 6 games. They split againstArgentina, were swept bySouth Africa and then went on to sweepAustralia.[199] In the All Blacks Northern end of year tour, they beatJapan (64–19) inYokohama,[200] beat England (24–22) atAllianz Stadium, Twickenham and swept them 3–0 in 2024,[201] beatIreland (23–13) at theAviva Stadium[202] and lost toFrance (29–30) in theStade de France[203] before bouncing back a week later and defeatingItaly (29–11) inTurin[204] to go 4 wins from 5 against the Northern Hemisphere teams. In 2024, Scott Robertson had a 10–4 record in his first season as Head Coach.
2025
The All Blacks kicked off their 2025 campaign with a 3-test series againstFrance. They swept the French to win the series (3–0) with victories inDunedin (31–27),[205]Wellington (43–17),[206] andHamilton (29–19).[207] In the2025 Rugby Championship, the All Blacks compiled a (4–2) record. They split both games withArgentina with the All Blacks winning (41–24) inCórdoba,[208] but suffered a first ever defeat to the Puma's on Argentine soil a week later with a (23–29) loss inBuenos Aries.[209] The All Blacks also split both games withSouth Africa with New Zealand winning (24–17) inEden Park,[210] but were demolished a week later by the Springboks with a (10–43) loss in Wellington,[211] which is their heaviest defeat in test match history, their worst ever loss at home and their worst ever defeat to the Springboks. South Africa broke their own record from 2 years prior when they gave New Zealand their previous worst defeat atTwickenham inLondon with a (35–7) victory over the All Blacks.[212] They then went onto defeat theWallabies twice to retain theBledisloe Cup with a (33–24) victory at Eden Park,[213] and a (28–14) win atOptus Stadium inPerth.[214]
The current New Zealand jersey features a figure-hugging jersey and is entirely black except for sponsors' logos and the NZRU silver fern on the chest. The team has not always played in black; during the1884 tour of Australia which was the first overseas New Zealand rugby tour, the team donned a dark blue jersey, with a gold fern insignia on the left of the jumper.[215][216][217] In 1893, when the New Zealand Rugby Union was established, they stipulated that the uniform would be a black jersey with silver fern and white knickerbockers,[218] although historic photographs suggest white shorts may have been used instead during these early years. There was a change some time after 1897, and in 1901 the team metNew South Wales wearing an all black uniform for the first time - black jersey, a canvas top with no collar, and a silver fern, and black shorts.[219]
In 2006, New Zealand wore an embroideredremembrance poppy on their jersey sleeve when playing France during the end-of-year tour.[220] The poppy honours the ANZAC soldiers who died on the beaches ofGallipoli. Captain Richie McCaw said "We want to honour the overseas service of New Zealanders. It is an important part of our history as a country and a team."[221]
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup, there was an image of the Webb Ellis Cup embroidered on the sleeve of the All Blacks' jerseys, with the year '1987' below it to signify the team's previous world title. Each of the four teams that had won the cup in previous years sported the same detailing on their jerseys.[222]
Canterbury were kit suppliers to New Zealand from 1924 until 1999,[223] whenAdidas paid $70 million to clothe and shoe the All Blacks for five years.[224]Nike also looked at sponsoring New Zealand at this time, but elected to sponsorTiger Woods instead.[225] In 2003, Adidas renewed this contract and paid the team US$200 million over nine years, expecting New Zealand to win around 75 per cent of their matches.[226] In 2008, this deal was extended to 2019 for an undisclosed amount,[227] In 2017 this was again extended to 2023 in a deal estimated to be worth about $10 million a year.[228] In 2023, the All Blacks and Adidas renewed their partnership ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup for an undisclosed amount and period.[229]
| Period | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|
| 1924–1999 | Canterbury |
| 1999–present | Adidas |
Steinlager was the first sponsor to appear on the All Blacks' jersey, in the left breast of the jersey (on the opposite side to the silver fern), lasting from 1994 to 1999, when Adidas took over as supplier. In 2012,AIG became the first to sponsor on the centre-front of the All Black jersey in a deal estimated to be worth approximately $80 million over five years.[230] AIG extended this sponsorship to 2021 in a deal thought to be worth about $15m a year.[228] After AIG decided not to renew their sponsorship deal with the team, it was announced that the Altrad Group would be the new main sponsor of the All Blacks from 2022, with a 6-year deal reportedly worth more than $120 million.[231]
The All Blacks perform ahaka (aMāori challenge) before every international match. The tradition has been closely associated with New Zealand rugby ever since a tour of Australia and the United Kingdom by theNew Zealand Natives in 1888 and 1889,[232][233] although it is likely that the New Zealand team that toured New South Wales in 1884 may also have performed a haka.[234] The 1888–89 New Zealand native team usedAke Ake Kia Kaha, and a mocking haka,Tupoto koe, Kangaru!, was used by the 1903 team that visited Australia. In 1905, the All Blacks began the tradition of usingKa Mate, a haka composed in the 19th century byTe Rauparaha, leader of theNgāti Toa tribe. The 1924 All Blacks used a specially composed haka,Ko Niu Tireni, but later All Blacks reverted to usingKa Mate.[235][236][237]
In August 2005, before the Tri-Nations test match between New Zealand and South Africa atCarisbrook stadium inDunedin, the All Blacks performed a new haka,Kapa o Pango, specially composed for the occasion byDerek Lardelli and intended to reflect thePolynesian-influenced multicultural make-up of contemporary New Zealand.[238] Lardelli's haka was not designed to replaceKa Mate as it was only meant to be used for special occasions.[238]Kapa o Pango concludes with a move that has been interpreted as a "throat slitting" gesture, which has led to accusations that the haka encourages violence and sends the wrong message to All Blacks fans.[239] However, according to Lardelli, the gesture is meant to represent "drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs".[240]
In November 2006, at theMillennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, the All Blacks performed the haka in the dressing room prior to the match – instead of on the field immediately before kick-off – following a disagreement with theWelsh Rugby Union, who had wanted Wales to singtheir national anthem immediately after the haka.[241] In 2008, New Zealand playedMunster at Thomond Park; before the match, Munster's four New Zealand players challenged their opponents by performing their own haka before the All Blacks started theirs.[242] On the same tour, Wales responded to New Zealand's haka by silently refusing to move afterwards, and the two teams simply stared at each other until the referee forced them to start the game.[243]
| Rank | Change[i] | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | South Africa | 93.06 |
| 2 | | New Zealand | 90.33 |
| 3 |  1 |  England | 89.09 |
| 4 |  1 |  Ireland | 88.85 |
| 5 | |  France | 87.07 |
| 6 | |  Argentina | 85.30 |
| 7 | |  Australia | 81.69 |
| 8 | 1 |  Fiji | 81.03 |
| 9 | 1 |  Scotland | 80.22 |
| 10 | |  Italy | 78.98 |
| 11 | |  Georgia | 74.69 |
| 12 | |  Wales | 74.23 |
| 13 | |  Japan | 72.58 |
| 14 | |  Spain | 69.12 |
| 15 | |  Uruguay | 68.52 |
| 16 | |  United States | 68.26 |
| 17 | |  Samoa | 66.94 |
| 18 | |  Chile | 66.72 |
| 19 | |  Tonga | 66.66 |
| 20 | |  Portugal | 64.89 |
| 21 | |  Romania | 62.16 |
| 22 | |  Belgium | 61.81 |
| 23 | |  Hong Kong | 59.61 |
| 24 | |  Canada | 58.85 |
| 25 | |  Zimbabwe | 58.80 |
| 26 | |  Netherlands | 57.01 |
| 27 | |  Namibia | 56.39 |
| 28 | |  Switzerland | 55.26 |
| 29 | |  Poland | 54.36 |
| 30 | 1 |  Czech Republic | 53.39 |
| New_Zealand's historical rankings |
New Zealand have only ever been beaten by seven test nations (and drawing to an additional nation in Scotland) and two combined teams (the British & Irish Lions, and a World XV) and they are the only international team to have a winning record against every nation they have played. They have won 508 of their 663 test matches (76.62 per cent; see table below) and have lost at home only 43 times. SinceWorld Rankings were introduced by World Rugby in October 2003, New Zealand have occupied the number one ranking the majority of the time.[5] In the decade from 2000 to 2009, New Zealand won 100 tests (92 per cent of their total games played).
New Zealand'slongest winning streak is 18 test victories (a Tier 1 joint world record), achieved between 2015 and 2016. In 2013 they won every test they played during a calendar year. The All Blacks hold the record for most consecutive test wins at home, a 47–match winning streak, achieved between 2009 and 2017.[245] Their longest unbeaten streak is 23 tests (from 1987 to 1990) with one game being drawn.[246]
Their all-time points record for tests stands at 18,973 points for and 9,250 points against (updated15 November 2025). Many national rugby union teams have suffered their heaviest defeats when playing against New Zealand, these being Argentina (91–8), Fiji (91–0), France (61–10), Ireland (60–0), Japan (145–17), Samoa (101–14), South Africa (57–0), Tonga (102–0, twice) and the British and Irish Lions (38–6). The All Blacks largest test win was a (145–17) victory against Japan in 1995,[247] while their heaviest loss was a (10–43) defeat to the Springboks in 2025.
Below is a summary of New Zealand test results (updated15 November 2025):[248]
| Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win% | For | Aga | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 41 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 87.8% | 1,570 | 607 | +963 |
| Australia | 181 | 128 | 45 | 8 | 70.72% | 4,053 | 2,642 | +1,411 |
 British & Irish Lions | 41 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 73.17% | 700 | 399 | +301 |
| Canada | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 376 | 54 | +322 |
| England | 47 | 36 | 9 | 2 | 76.6% | 1,110 | 706 | +394 |
| Fiji | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 528 | 91 | +437 |
| France | 67 | 51 | 15 | 1 | 76.12% | 1,781 | 961 | +820 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 43 | 10 | +33 |
| Ireland | 39 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 84.62% | 1,090 | 542 | +548 |
| Italy | 17 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 992 | 168 | +824 |
| Japan | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 453 | 111 | +342 |
| Namibia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 200 | 26 | +174 |
 Pacific Islanders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 41 | 26 | +15 |
| Portugal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 108 | 13 | +95 |
| Romania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 99 | 14 | +85 |
| Samoa | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 411 | 72 | +339 |
| Scotland | 33 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 93.94% | 978 | 389 | +589 |
| South Africa | 110 | 63 | 43 | 4 | 57.27% | 2,269 | 1,849 | +420 |
| Tonga | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 520 | 42 | +478 |
| United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 275 | 29 | +246 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 73 | 0 | +73 |
| Wales | 37 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 91.89% | 1,219 | 430 | +789 |
| World XV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | 94 | 69 | +25 |
| Total | 663 | 508 | 132 | 23 | 76.62% | 18,973 | 9,250 | +9,723 |
| Rugby World Cuprecord | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | |||||||||
| 1987 | Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 298 | 52 | Squad | |||||||||
| 1991 | Third place | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 143 | 74 | Squad | |||||||||
| 1995 | Runners-up | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 327 | 119 | Squad | |||||||||
| 1999 | Fourth place | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 255 | 111 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2003 | Third place | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 361 | 101 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2007 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 327 | 55 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2011 | Champions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 301 | 72 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2015 | Champions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 290 | 97 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2019 | Third place | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 250 | 72 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2023 | Runners-up | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 336 | 89 | Squad | |||||||||
| 2027 | Qualified | ||||||||||||||||
| 2031 | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | — | 64 | 54 | 1 | 9 | 2888 | 842 | — | |||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
DuringTyphoon Hagibis; New Zealand v Italy was to be cancelled and recorded as 0–0 draw
New Zealand have won the World Cup three times. They beat France in the final of the 1987 inaugural competition held in New Zealand and Australia, defeated France again in the final of the 2011 tournament, also hosted in New Zealand, and most recently defeated Australia in England in 2015, making them the first team to win the World Cup in consecutive tournaments. In 1991, they lost their semi-final to Australia before winning the playoff for third. In 1995, they reached the final, before losing in extra time to hosts South Africa. They finished in fourth place in 1999, after losing their semi-final and then the third-place playoff game. In 2003, New Zealand were knocked out by hosts Australia in their semi-final, before finishing third. The 2007 World Cup saw their worst tournament, being knocked out in the quarter-finals by the host nation France;[249] until this they were the only team to have reached the semi-finals of every tournament.[250] As a result of the poor performance in the 2007 World Cup the NZRU commissioned a 47-page report to detail the causes of the failure. In 2019, they lost in the semi-finals against England in a (7–19) defeat, and then finishing in third-place after beating Wales in the 3rd spot playoff game (40–17). In 2023, the All Blacks were defeated by the Springboks (11–12) in the final. The All Blacks had won every World Cup pool match they had played in until 8 September 2023 when they lost their first ever pool match in the opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup against the host nation France, and have finished top of their pool in 9 out of the 10 tournaments.
New Zealand holds several World Cup records: most World Cup matches (63), most points in one match (145 versusJapan in 1995), most cumulative points over all World Cups (2,888), most tries overall (396), most conversions (289) and also the record for the most points scored in the first half of a knockout game at the Rugby World Cup (29, against France 2015) along with the largest knockout margin (49) in the same match.[251] They currently hold the record for the most consecutive wins at aWorld Cup, with 18 straight wins, spanning from 2011 to 2019. Several individual players also hold World Cup records,Jonah Lomu for most World Cup tries (15 over two World Cups, tied with South Africa'sBryan Habana),Marc Ellis with most tries in a match (6 versus Japan in 1995),Grant Fox with most points in one tournament (126 in 1987), andSimon Culhane with most points in a single game (45 versus Japan in 1995).[251]
New Zealand's only annual tournament is a competition involving the Southern Hemisphere's top national teams. From 1996 through 2011, they competed in theTri Nations against Australia and South Africa. In 2012, Argentina joined the competition, which was renamedThe Rugby Championship. New Zealand's record of 20 tournament wins (the most recent in 2023) and 107 match wins is well ahead of the other teams records. TheBledisloe Cup is contested between New Zealand and Australia, and theFreedom Cup between New Zealand and South Africa, as part of the Tri Nations and The Rugby Championship.
| Nation | Matches | Points | Bonus points | Table points | Titles won | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | ||||
| New Zealand | 76 | 52 | 0 | 24 | 2,054 | 1,449 | +605 | 35 | 243 | 11 |
| Australia | 76 | 30 | 3 | 43 | 1,591 | 1,817 | −226 | 34 | 160 | 3 |
| South Africa | 72 | 28 | 1 | 43 | 1,480 | 1,831 | −351 | 24 | 138 | 3 |
| Argentina | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 56 | 84 | –28 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Bonus points given byT – 4W − 2D, forT table points,W games won andD games drawn.
| Nation | Matches | Points | Bonus points | Table points | Titles won | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | ||||
| New Zealand | 69 | 55 | 2 | 12 | 2,313 | 1,348 | +965 | 43 | 268 | 9 |
| South Africa | 69 | 37 | 4 | 28 | 1,845 | 1,534 | +311 | 33 | 185 | 3 |
| Australia | 69 | 28 | 3 | 38 | 1,563 | 1,900 | −337 | 16 | 141 | 1 |
| Argentina | 69 | 14 | 1 | 54 | 1,358 | 2,277 | −919 | 16 | 66 | 0 |
| Nation | Matches | Points | Bonus points | Table points | Titles won | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | ||||
| New Zealand | 145 | 107 | 2 | 36 | 4,367 | 2,797 | +1,570 | 78 | 511 | 20 |
| South Africa | 141 | 65 | 5 | 71 | 3,325 | 3,365 | –40 | 57 | 323 | 6 |
| Australia | 145 | 58 | 6 | 81 | 3,154 | 3,717 | –563 | 50 | 301 | 4 |
| Argentina | 73 | 15 | 3 | 55 | 1,414 | 2,361 | –947 | 16 | 74 | 0 |
| New Zealand's home and away series' played total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Series stats | Home Series | Away Series | ||||
| P | W | D | L | % | |||
| Argentina | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 1989,1997 | 1985,1991 |
| Australia | 31 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 077.42 | 1913,1936,1946,1949,1952,1955,1958,1962,1964,1972,1978,1982,1986,1990 | 1907,1910,1914,1929,1932,1934,1938,1947,1951,1957,1962,1968,1974,1980,1984,1988,1992 |
| British & Irish Lions | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 083.33 | 1904,1908,1930,1950,1959,1966,1971,1977,1983,1993,2005,2017 | |
| England[j] | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 1963,1985,1998,2004,2008,2014,2024 | 1997 |
| Fiji | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 2021 | |
| France | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 061.11 | 1961,1968,1979,1984,1989,1994,2007,2009,2013,2018,2025 | 1977,1981,1986,1990,1995,2000,2006 |
| Ireland[j] | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 080.00 | 1992,2002,2006,2012,2022 | |
| Scotland[j] | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 1981,1990,1996,2000 | |
| South Africa | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 041.67 | 1921,1937,1956,1965,1981,1994 | 1928,1949,1960,1970,1976,1996 |
| Wales[j] | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 1969,1988,2010,2016 | |
| World XV | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 1992 | |
| Total | 100 | 76 | 10 | 14 | 076.00 | Years | |
| Team | Series stats | ||||||
| P | W | D | L | % | |||
| • Bold text denotes series was won by New Zealand • Italic text denotes series was drawn | |||||||
On 13 October, New Zealand named a 36-player squad ahead of their2025Grand Slam tour.[252]
Unavailable due to injury:Patrick Tuipulotu (ruled out after initially being named in the squad),Tyrel Lomax,Tupou Vaa'i,Noah Hotham,Emoni Narawa,Ollie Norris,Ofa Tuʻungafasi,Asafo Aumua,Stephen Perofeta, andTimoci Tavatavanawai.
On 5 November,Jordie Barrett was ruled out for the rest of the tour due to a leg injury.[253]
On 12 November,Samipeni Finau andLuke Jacobson both returned to New Zealand due to family reasons and a head knock injury.[254]
Head Coach:Scott Robertson
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Franchise/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Bell | Hooker | (2002-01-29)29 January 2002 (age 23) | 3 | Crusaders /Canterbury |
| Samisoni Taukei'aho | Hooker | (1997-08-08)8 August 1997 (age 28) | 42 | Chiefs /Waikato |
| Codie Taylor | Hooker | (1991-03-31)31 March 1991 (age 34) | 106 | Crusaders /Canterbury |
| George Bower | Prop | (1992-05-28)28 May 1992 (age 33) | 24 | Crusaders /Otago |
| Ethan de Groot | Prop | (1998-07-22)22 July 1998 (age 27) | 40 | Highlanders /Southland |
| Tevita Mafileo | Prop | (1998-02-04)4 February 1998 (age 27) | 0 | Hurricanes /Bay of Plenty |
| Fletcher Newell | Prop | (2000-02-01)1 February 2000 (age 25) | 34 | Crusaders /Canterbury |
| Pasilio Tosi | Prop | (1998-07-18)18 July 1998 (age 27) | 15 | Hurricanes /Bay of Plenty |
| Tamaiti Williams | Prop | (2000-08-10)10 August 2000 (age 25) | 26 | Crusaders /Canterbury |
| Scott Barrett (c) | Lock | (1993-11-20)20 November 1993 (age 32) | 88 | Crusaders /Taranaki |
| Sam Darry | Lock | (2000-07-18)18 July 2000 (age 25) | 8 | Blues /Canterbury |
| Fabian Holland | Lock | (2002-10-09)9 October 2002 (age 23) | 11 | Highlanders /Otago |
| Josh Lord | Lock | (2001-01-17)17 January 2001 (age 24) | 11 | Chiefs /Taranaki |
| Du'Plessis Kirifi | Loose forward | (1997-03-03)3 March 1997 (age 28) | 7 | Hurricanes /Wellington |
| Peter Lakai | Loose forward | (2003-03-04)4 March 2003 (age 22) | 8 | Hurricanes /Wellington |
| Simon Parker | Loose forward | (2000-05-06)6 May 2000 (age 25) | 7 | Chiefs /Northland |
| Ardie Savea | Loose forward | (1993-10-14)14 October 1993 (age 32) | 106 | Moana Pasifika /Wellington |
| Wallace Sititi | Loose forward | (2002-09-07)7 September 2002 (age 23) | 18 | Chiefs /North Harbour |
| Finlay Christie | Half-back | (1995-09-19)19 September 1995 (age 30) | 27 | Blues /Tasman |
| Cortez Ratima | Half-back | (2001-03-22)22 March 2001 (age 24) | 20 | Chiefs /Waikato |
| Cam Roigard | Half-back | (2000-11-16)16 November 2000 (age 25) | 17 | Hurricanes /Counties Manukau |
| Beauden Barrett | First five-eighth | (1991-05-27)27 May 1991 (age 34) | 144 | Blues /Taranaki |
| Damian McKenzie | First five-eighth | (1995-04-20)20 April 1995 (age 30) | 73 | Chiefs /Waikato |
| Leicester Faingaʻanuku | Centre | (1999-10-11)11 October 1999 (age 26) | 11 | Crusaders /Tasman |
| Anton Lienert-Brown | Centre | (1995-04-15)15 April 1995 (age 30) | 87 | Chiefs /Waikato |
| Billy Proctor | Centre | (1999-05-14)14 May 1999 (age 26) | 11 | Hurricanes /Wellington |
| Quinn Tupaea | Centre | (1999-05-10)10 May 1999 (age 26) | 24 | Chiefs /Waikato |
| Leroy Carter | Wing | (1999-02-24)24 February 1999 (age 26) | 6 | Chiefs /Bay of Plenty |
| Caleb Clarke | Wing | (1999-03-29)29 March 1999 (age 26) | 32 | Blues /Auckland |
| Rieko Ioane | Wing | (1997-03-18)18 March 1997 (age 28) | 87 | Blues /Auckland |
| Sevu Reece | Wing | (1997-02-13)13 February 1997 (age 28) | 36 | Crusaders /Southland |
| Will Jordan | Fullback | (1998-02-24)24 February 1998 (age 27) | 53 | Crusaders /Tasman |
| Ruben Love | Fullback | (2001-04-28)28 April 2001 (age 24) | 4 | Hurricanes /Wellington |
Nineteen former All Blacks have been inducted into theWorld Rugby Hall of Fame:Sir Fred Allen,Dan Carter,Don Clarke,Sean Fitzpatrick,Grant Fox,Dave Gallaher,Sir Michael Jones,Ian Kirkpatrick,Sir John Kirwan,Sir Brian Lochore,Jonah Lomu,Richie McCaw,Sir Colin Meads,Graham Mourie,George Nēpia,Sir Bryan Williams,Sir Wilson Whineray, andJoe Warbrick.[255][256]
Joe Warbrick represented New Zealand on their historic 1884 tour to Australia, but is better known for selecting and captaining the1888–89 New Zealand Native football team that embarked on a 107-match tour of New Zealand, Australia and the British Isles.[257] The New Zealand Natives were the first New Zealand team to wear black uniforms, and the first to perform a haka.[258]
Dave Gallaher played in New Zealand's first ever test match in 1903 and also captained the 1905 Originals. Along withBilly Stead, Gallaher wrote the famous rugby bookThe Complete Rugby Footballer.[259] At the age of only 19, George Nēpia played in all 30 matches on the Invincibles tour of 1924–25.[260] Nēpia played 37 All Blacks games; his last was against the British Isles in 1930.[260]
Sir Fred Allen captained all of his 21 matches for New Zealand, including six tests, between 1946 and 1949.[261] He eventually moved on to coaching New Zealand between 1966 and 1968. New Zealand won all 14 of their test matches with Allen as coach.[261]
Five hall of Fame inductees, including the first New Zealander named to the World Rugby Hall of Fame, played during the 1960s. Don Clarke was an All Black between 1956 and 1964 and during this period he broke the record at the time for All Black test points.[262] Clarke famously scored six penalties in one match – a record at the time – to give New Zealand an 18–17 victory over the British Isles at Dunedin in 1959.[262][263] Sir Wilson Whineray played 32 tests, captaining New Zealand in 30 of them.[264] He played prop and alsonumber 8 between 1957 and 1965. New Zealand lost only four of their 30 tests with Whineray as captain.[264] On 21 October 2007, Whineray became the first New Zealander to earn induction to the World Rugby Hall of Fame.[265] In Sir Colin Meads' New Zealand Rugby Museum profile, he is described as "New Zealand's equivalent of Australia's SirDonald Bradman or the United States of America'sBabe Ruth".[266] Meads, nicknamedPinetree, played 133 games for New Zealand, including 55 tests.[266] In 1999 the New Zealand Rugby Monthly magazine named Meads the New Zealand player of the century.[266] Ian Kirkpatrick played 39 tests, including nine as captain, between 1967 and 1977.[267] He scored 16 tries in his test career, a record at the time.[267]
There were two players in the Hall of Fame to debut in the 1970s one was flanker Graham Mourie. He captained 19 of his 21 tests and 57 of his 61 overall All Blacks matches between 1976 and 1982. Most notably, in 1978 he was captain of the first All Blacks side to complete aGrand Slam over the fourHome Nations sides.[268]
The 1987 World Cup champions were coached by Sir Brian Lochore who had represented New Zealand in 25 tests between 1964 and 1971, including 17 as captain.[269] He wasknighted in 1999 for his lifetime services to rugby.[270] Four of the 1987 World Cup squad that he had coached are also inductees in the Hall of Fame. Sir John Kirwan played a total of 63 tests between 1984 and 1994, scoring 35 tries, an All Blacks record at the time.[271] In the 1987 World Cup opener against Italy, Kirwan raced 90 meters to score one of the tries of the tournament.[271][272]
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An All Black from 1984 to 1993, Grant Fox was one of New Zealand's greatest point-scorers with 1067 points, including 645 test points.[273] Fox played 46 tests, including the 1987 World Cup final against France. Known as The Iceman, Michael Jones was one of the greatest open side flankers of all time.[274] Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Jones first played international rugby forSamoa, then for New Zealand, playing 55 tests between 1987 and 1998.[274] Due to his Christian faith, Jones never played rugby on Sundays, resulting in him not playing in the 1991 World Cup semi-final against Australia, and also in him not being picked for the1995 World Cup squad.[274][275]
For many years the most capped test All Black was Sean Fitzpatrick, with 92 appearances.[276] He played in the 1987 World Cup after incumbent Andy Dalton was injured, and was appointed All Blacks captain in 1992, continuing in the role until his retirement in 1997.[276] He played 346 first class rugby matches.[277]
Jonah Lomu is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union.[278] He was the youngest player ever to appear in a test as an All Black, making his debut at age 19 years, 45 days in 1994. Lomu, awing, had unique physical gifts; even though he stood 1.96 metres (6 feet 5 inches) and weighed 119 kg (262 lb), making him both the tallest[279] and heaviest[280] back ever to play for New Zealand, he could run 100 metres in under 11 seconds. He burst on the international scene in the1995 Rugby World Cup, scoring seven tries in the competition. Four of those tries came in New Zealand's semi-final win over England, including an iconic try in which he bulldozed England'sMike Catt on his way to the try line. He added eight more tries in the1999 Rugby World Cup. Perhaps most remarkably, Lomu played virtually his entire top-level career in the shadow ofa serious kidney disorder which ended his test career in 2002 and ultimately led to atransplant in 2004. Even with his career hampered and eventually shortened by his health issues, he scored 37 tries in 63 tests.[281]
The record for most test points for not only New Zealand, but any nation, is held byDan Carter with 1,598 from 112 tests.[282] He surpassedAndrew Mehrtens' All Black record total of 967 points from 70 tests[283] in the All Blacks' win over England on 21 November 2009.[284] On 27 November 2010 Dan Carter scored a penalty against Wales to pass Jonny Wilkinson's previous world record of 1,178 points.[285] Carter also holds the record for points against Australia with 366.
The All Blacks' record test try scorer isDoug Howlett with 49 tries, who overtookChristian Cullen's 46 during the 2007 World Cup.[286] The world record for tries in a calendar year is held byJoe Rokocoko, with 17 tries in 2003; he also became the first All Black to score ten tries in his first five tests, as well as the first All Black to score at least two tries in each of four consecutive tests.[287] In test matches, the most capped All Black isSam Whitelock with 153 caps.[288] The record for most tests as captain is held byRichie McCaw with 110.[289] The youngest All Black in a test match wasJonah Lomu, capped at age 19 years, 45 days, whilst the oldest test player wasNed Hughes at 40 years, 123 days.[281][290][k]
The following New Zealand players have been recognised at theWorld Rugby Awards since 2001:[6][291][292]
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|
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| Year | Date | Scorer | Match | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 15 June | Beauden Barrett | vs.France | Summer Test Series |
| 2015 | 17 October | Julian Savea | vs.France | Rugby World Cup |
| 2018 | 18 August | Brodie Retallick | vs.Australia | Rugby Championship |
| 2019 | 6 October | TJ Perenara | vs.Namibia | Rugby World Cup |
The following table lists every head coach of the All Blacks, from 1949 to the present day. Every All Black head coach has been a New Zealander.Scott Robertson is the current head coach, as of 2025.
| Name | Years | Tests | Won | Lost | Draw | Win % | All Black No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex McDonald | 1949 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% | 128 |
| Tom Morrison | 1950, 55–56 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 66.7% | 441 |
| Len Clode | 1951 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% | - |
| Arthur Marslin | 1953–1954 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60% | - |
| Dick Everest | 1957 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | - |
| Jack Sullivan | 1958–1960 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 54.5% | 428 |
| Neil McPhail | 1961–1965 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 80% | - |
| Ron Bush | 1962 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | - |
| Fred Allen | 1966–1968 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 449 |
| Ivan Vodanovich | 1969–1971 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 40% | 568 |
| Bob Duff | 1972–1973 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 75% | 523 |
| JJ Stewart | 1974–1976 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 54.5% | - |
| Jack Gleeson | 1977–1978 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 76.9% | - |
| Eric Watson | 1979–1980 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 55.6% | - |
| Peter Burke | 1981–1982 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 81.8% | 534 |
| Bryce Rope | 1983–1984 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 75% | - |
| Brian Lochore | 1985–1987 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 77.8% | 637 |
| Alex Wyllie | 1988–1991 | 29 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 86.2% | 688 |
| Laurie Mains | 1992–1995 | 34 | 23 | 10 | 1 | 67.6% | 697 |
| John Hart | 1996–1999 | 41 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 75.6% | - |
| Wayne Smith | 2000–2001 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 70.6% | 806 |
| John Mitchell[293] | 2002–2003 | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 82.1% | 940 |
| Graham Henry[294] | 2004–2011 | 103 | 88 | 15 | 0 | 85.4% | - |
| Steve Hansen | 2012–2019 | 107 | 93 | 10 | 4 | 86.9% | - |
| Ian Foster | 2020–2023 | 46 | 32 | 12 | 2 | 69.6% | - |
| Scott Robertson[295] | 2024– | 26 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 73.1% | 974 |
The following All Blacks head coaches have been recognised at theWorld Rugby Awards since 2001:[6]
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Graham Henry | Graham Henry |
| 2006 | Graham Henry (2) | Graham Henry (2) |
| 2008 | Graham Henry (3) | Graham Henry (3) |
| 2010 | Graham Henry (4) | Graham Henry (4) |
| 2011 | Graham Henry (5) | Graham Henry (5) |
| 2012 | Steve Hansen | Steve Hansen |
| 2013 | Steve Hansen (2) | Steve Hansen (2) |
| 2014 | Steve Hansen (3) | Steve Hansen (3) |
| 2015 | Steve Hansen (4) | — |
| 2016 | Steve Hansen (5) | Steve Hansen (4) |
| 2017 | Steve Hansen (6) | — |
| 2018 | Steve Hansen (7) | |
| 2019 | Steve Hansen (8) | |
| 2021 | Ian Foster | |
| 2023 | Ian Foster (2) |
Like other major rugby nations Argentina, Australia, France and South Africa, New Zealand does not have an official stadium for its national team. Instead, the All Blacks play their test matches at a variety of venues throughout New Zealand.
Prior to the construction of Westpac Stadium in 1999, Wellington's test venue wasAthletic Park, which had served as the venue for the first All Blacks test match in New Zealand against Great Britain in 1904.[296] The first home test match played outside the main centres of Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin or Wellington was in 1996 atMcLean Park inNapier.[297]
Originally known as Rugby Park, theHamilton venue was completely reconstructed in late 2000 to upgrade the facility, re-opening in early 2002 asWaikato Stadium.[298][299]
Eden Park and Lancaster Park were upgraded in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. By that time, the NZRU no longer considered Carisbrook a suitable test venue, and a covered sports stadium (Forsyth Barr) was proposed as a replacement.[300]Dunedin City Council approved the new stadium in March 2008,[301] land acquisition proceeded from August to October of that year.[302]
| Ground | First Test | Last Test | Tests Held | Win% | Last Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athletic Park, Wellington,North Island | 1904 v British Lions | 1999 v France | 42 | 69% | 25 July 1998 |
| Tahuna Park,Dunedin,South Island | 1905 v Australia | (1905) | 1 | 100% | N/A |
| Potter's Park,Auckland, North Island | 1908 v British Lions | (1908) | 1 | 100% | N/A |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin, South Island | 1908 v British Lions | 2011 v Fiji | 38 | 86% | 13 June 2009 |
| Lancaster Park,Christchurch, South Island | 1913 v Australia | 2010 v Australia | 48 | 81% | 1 August 1998 |
| Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch, South Island | 2012 v Ireland | 2022 v Argentina | 5 | 80% | 27 August 2022 |
| Eden Park, Auckland, North Island | 1921 v South Africa | 2025 v Australia | 95 | 86% | 3 July 1994 |
| Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland, North Island | 1958 v Australia | (1958) | 1 | 100% | N/A |
| Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, South Island | 2012 v South Africa | 2025 v France | 11 | 90% | 9 July 2022 |
| McLean Park,Napier, North Island | 1996 v Western Samoa | 2014 v Argentina | 2 | 100% | N/A |
| Mt Smart Stadium,Auckland, North Island | 2021 v Tonga | 2023 v South Africa | 2 | 100% | N/A |
| North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, North Island | 1997 v Fiji | 2017 v South Africa | 7 | 100% | N/A |
| Sky Stadium, Wellington, North Island | 2000 v Australia | 2025 v South Africa | 31 | 71% | 13 September 2025 |
| Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, North Island[303][l] | 1997 v Argentina | 2025 v France | 17 | 94% | 12 October 2009 |
| Taranaki Stadium,New Plymouth, North Island | 2008 v Samoa | 2017 v Argentina | 4 | 100% | N/A |
| Trafalgar Park,Nelson, South Island | 2018 v Argentina | (2018) | 1 | 100% | N/A |
| Total | 306 | 83% |
Traditionally New Zealanders have excelled in rugby union, which is regarded as the national sport, and track and field athletics.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Halberg Awards – Supreme Award 1987 2011 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by Hamish Bond & Eric Murray | Succeeded by | |
| New award | Halberg Awards – New Zealand Team of the Year 1987 1996 1997 2006 2011 2013 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by All Blacks | |
| Preceded by All Blacks | Succeeded by Equestrian Eventing Team | |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by Men's Coxless Four | |
| Preceded by All Whites | Succeeded by Hamish Bond & Eric Murray | |
| Preceded by Hamish Bond & Eric Murray | ||
| Preceded by Hamish Bond & Eric Murray | Succeeded by | |
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| Competitions and trophies | |||||||||||||
| Related teams | |||||||||||||
| Matches |
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| Tours |
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