Why New Zealand Rugby snubbed Hamilton, Dunedin, New Plymouth for 2026 All Blacks tests
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
New Zealand Rugby is “not apologetic” after opting to snub Hamilton, Dunedin and New Plymouth for All Blacks tests next year.
The national body on Tuesday announced the home venues for the 2026 season, with Scott Robertson’s side to play the Southern Series of the new Nations Championship in July in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, with Eden Park to also get a second game, in the Bledisloe Cup in October.
It’s a truncated home schedule, given the August-September tour of South Africa, dubbed ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ (RGR), which takes the usual number of home tests down from six to four.
While a strong revenue-sharing arrangement for that tour will ensure the coffers aren’t awfully hit, NZR still felt it imperative to stage their home matches where they could reap their biggest returns.
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“Capacity and yield are big factors for us in any year, but with four being a smaller number than usual, it was more of a factor this year,” explained New Zealand Rugby general manager professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum.
“We’re conscious that it’s not everything, and we expect to generate a significant amount of revenue for the organisation from the RGR tour, but it’s always important because the breadth of what we do in New Zealand Rugby, and what we fund, whether that’s in the community game, or in support of our high-performance teams, is really considerable.”
That means Auckland, and Eden Park, with its near-50,000 capacity, is the big winner, with the All Blacks out to extend their remarkable 52-match unbeaten run at the venue, dating back to 1994, when they face Ireland on July 18, before the potential to again lock up the Bledisloe Cup, which they have held since 2003, there.
“It’s our biggest city, it’s the biggest catchment of our fans, isn’t it?” Lendrum said. “So, yes, the capacity of Eden Park, the legacy of Eden Park comes into it, and the financial yield as well.
“We’re not apologetic about that. It makes sense with a really significant percentage of the population in that part of the country.”
Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato (capacity around 25,000), which hosted a test this year (against France) for the first time since 2022, has at least claimed one of four 2026 home Black Ferns tests (the first of three against France, on October 17).
But with Whangārei and Christchurch getting the second and third against Les Bleus, and Auckland (Go Media Stadium) hosting the other against Australia in August, it’s a double-whammy for Dunedin and New Plymouth in 2026.
Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium (capacity around 30,000) has hosted an All Blacks test each of the last five years, while New Plymouth, home of the three Barrett brothers, hasn’t since 2017, but the rebuilt Stadium Taranaki (capacity around 23,000) remains an option in the near future, Lendrum said.
Almost certainly not in 2027, though, given there will again be only four home tests on the All Blacks’ calendar. That, however, is one-to-two more than a typical World Cup year, given the Rugby Championship will this time be staged in full, with an extra home test against Scotland also on the cards.
“When we get back into 2028, and 2029 when the British and Irish Lions are here, there is the opportunity for fixtures for venues like New Plymouth,” Lendrum said.
“There is also obviously other national teams, and our regions and provincial unions will also tender for those matches.
“This is a decision that’s right for 2026, it’s not to be taken as an indicator that games won’t go to regions in the future, or that it’s time to give up for any region, that’s certainly not the case.”
Lendrum said it was basically a no-brainer to start the test season at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, where the All Blacks will take on France on July 4.
The 30,000 state-of-the-art roofed venue is nearing completion, set to be opened in just over four months, when Super Rugby Pacific stages its Super Round there over Anzac weekend.
It will be just the second All Blacks test in the Garden City in 10 years, with the only one in that time being the 2022 loss to Argentina ‒ New Zealand’s first to the Pumas on home soil.
The All Blacks will then face Italy at Wellington’s Sky Stadium (capacity around 35,000), a venue they have won just three of their last 10 matches at, and where they this year suffered their biggest defeat in history (43-10 to the Springboks).
Lendrum said despite the poor record there, there was no thoughts of swerving the capital, and despite it having hosted two tests each of the last two seasons (including a crowd of only about 25,000 for the test against Argentina in 2024), and the world No 10 Italians not exactly a major drawcard, he was hopeful the 5.10pm kickoff, and some different pricing strategies, would ensure a good turnout.
There is a ‘TBC’ kickoff time for the test against Ireland at Eden Park on July 18, as NZR ponder what might work best for them, on a night where the Warriors play against the Dragons at 7.30pm at Go Media Stadium, in what is their only home game in a six-round period of the NRL season.
“But we’re very confident that an All Blacks test will command the attention of our public regardless of when it kicks off,” Lendrum said.
All Blacks’ 2026 schedule (dates local time)
NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTHERN SERIES
Sat Jul 4, 7.10pm: v France, One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
Sat Jul 11, 5.10pm: v Italy, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Sat Jul 18, kickoff TBC: v Ireland, Eden Park, Auckland
RUGBY’S GREATEST RIVALRY
Fri Aug 7: v Stormers, Cape Town
Tue Aug 11: v Sharks, Durban
Sat Aug 15: v Bulls, Pretoria
Sat Aug 22: v South Africa, Johannesburg (Ellis Park)
Tue Aug 25: v Lions, Johannesburg (Ellis Park)
Sat Aug 29: v South Africa, Cape Town
Sat Sep 5: v South Africa, Johannesburg (FNB Stadium)
Sat Sep 12: v South Africa, neutral venue TBA
BLEDISLOE CUP
Sat Oct 10, 7.10pm: v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
Sat Oct 17, kickoff TBC: v Australia, Accor Stadium, Sydney
NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP NORTHERN SERIES
Sat Nov 8: v Scotland
Sat Nov 15: v Wales
Sat Nov 22: v England
Fri-Sun Nov 28-30: Finals weekend, London (Twickenham)