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'Entirely different to what the referees asked for': All Blacks assistant on South African TV director's influence
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Ireland get crack at Eden Park record as All Blacks confirm 2026 home schedule
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The All Blacks have finalised their home schedule for 2026, revealing some historic fixtures for Kiwi rugby fans.
The team will open their 2026 season against France in Christchurch’s brand-new One New Zealand Stadium, in a long-awaited return to the Garden City, which lost Lancaster Park in the 2011 earthquake and has been using the temporary Apollo Projects Stadium for much of the 14 years since.
The Test match will open a new era for Christchurch rugby and also Test rugby as the first Nations Championship match.
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The All Blacks will then head to Wellington to host Italy for an early evening kickoff at 5:10 pm, before heading further north to Auckland for an Eden Park blockbuster against Ireland.
The 52-game Eden Park unbeaten streak will also be put on the line against Australia, with the fourth and final home Test of the season to be a Bledisloe Cup fixture in Auckland.
“For the All Blacks to play at the new One New Zealand stadium 15 years after the earthquakes will be a special moment for the team and a significant occasion for rugby at the start of a new era for the international game,” New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said.
“Hosting France, Italy and Ireland in consecutive weeks will be new for our players, and it creates three unique match experiences for fans in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland as we kick off the Nations Championship era.
“The Bledisloe Cup is a hugely important trophy to the All Blacks, as is the team’s record at Eden Park, and our home fans will no doubt play their part again in the Tests against Ireland and Australia.”
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All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson added, “Playing at home will always be special to the All Blacks and to host three Northern Hemisphere nations in consecutive weeks is a great start to our 2026 campaign and a challenge we will embrace. It will be an historic occasion for Christchurch at the new stadium.
“We know Italy will be highly motivated as we start the Nations Championship and, as always, we will walk toward the challenge of defending our record at Eden Park against Ireland and Australia.”
The All Blacks’ 2026 home Test schedule
Nations Championship
- All Blacks v France, Saturday 4 July, One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch, kick off 7.10pm
- All Blacks v Italy, Saturday, 11 July, SKY Stadium, Wellington, kick off 5.10pm
- All Blacks v Ireland, Saturday, 18 July, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off TBC
Bledisloe Cup
- All Blacks v Australia, Saturday 10 October, Eden Park, Auckland, kick off 7.10pm
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