All Black v Wale 2025: Hi tory, How to Watch, Legend

For Welsh rugby fans, the fixture against the All Blacks carries a weight unlike any other — a rivalry where hope meets history across more than a century. Wales have managed just three wins over New Zealand since 1905, the last coming in 1953, making every new meeting a rare shot at glory.

Total matches played: 37 ·
Wales wins: 3 ·
New Zealand wins: 33 ·
Draws: 1 ·
Last result (2025): New Zealand 52–26 Wales

Five matches across 120 years share one standout pattern: New Zealand have dominated the head-to-head, but Wales’ three wins remain some of the most celebrated in their rugby history.

Have Wales ever beaten the All Blacks in rugby?

Yes — three times, and each victory occupies a distinct place in rugby lore. The first came in 1905, when Wales edged New Zealand 3-0 at Cardiff Arms Park in a match still debated for a disallowed All Blacks try. TNT Sports notes the 1905 result is often called the “match that defined a rivalry.”

The second win arrived in 1935: Wales 13-12 at St Helen’s, Swansea. The third and most recent came in 1953, a 13-8 triumph at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then, 34 matches have passed without a Welsh victory.

The 1905 controversy

• Wales won 3-0, with the only try scored by Teddy Morgan
• New Zealand’s Bob Deans claimed to have scored but the referee ruled otherwise — a dispute that still echoes in rugby history
• The match was the first between the two nations and drew a then-record crowd

The implication: that single, contested call in 1905 shaped the psychological edge between these teams for decades. Wales got the result, but the debate never fully settled.

The 1935 victory

• Wales won 13-12 at St Helen’s, Swansea
• The match was part of the 1935 All Blacks tour of the UK
• Wales edged the game by a single point in a tight contest

What this means: Wales proved their 1905 win was no fluke, but the slim margin signaled how narrow the gap really was — and how quickly it would widen.

The 1953 win — Wales’ last

• Final score: Wales 13-8 at Cardiff Arms Park on 19 December 1953
• It remains the last time Wales beat the All Blacks
• The 72-year drought (and counting) is the longest without a win for either side in this fixture

How to watch Wales v New Zealand: TV channels and streaming

For fans looking to catch the next clash, broadcast rights in the UK are held by BBC and S4C. BBC One typically airs Wales home internationals, while S4C offers Welsh-language coverage free of charge.

Is Wales v New Zealand on BBC?

• BBC has broadcast rights for Wales home matches as part of the Autumn Nations Series
• Coverage is available on BBC One and via BBC iPlayer for streaming
• BBC Radio also provides live commentary

Why this matters: BBC’s free-to-air coverage means the match is accessible to a wide UK audience without subscription fees — a key factor for casual viewers.

Free streaming options for Wales v New Zealand

• BBC iPlayer: free with a UK TV licence and account registration
• S4C Clic: free Welsh-language stream, no subscription required
• Both platforms offer live and on-demand replays

Who is the best All Blacks player ever?

New Zealand’s history is stacked with generational talent, but three names consistently surface in any debate about the greatest: Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, and Jonah Lomu.

Top 10 All Blacks legends

• Dan Carter — widely considered the finest fly-half of all time; 1,598 test points
• Richie McCaw — most capped All Black (148 tests); two World Cup-winning captain
• Jonah Lomu — redefined the wing position with pace and power; 37 test tries
• John Kirwan — 35 tries in 63 tests; 1987 World Cup winner
• Michael Jones — revolutionary flanker; scored first try in 1987 World Cup final
• Sean Fitzpatrick — 92 test caps as hooker; captain during the 1990s
• Zinzan Brooke — No. 8 known for audacious skill and leadership
• Grant Fox — accurate goal-kicker and strategist of the 1987 side
• Sir Brian Lochore — legendary lock and captain of the 1967 side
• Beauden Barrett — two-time World Rugby Player of the Year; 700+ test points

The pattern: the three iconic names — Carter, McCaw, Lomu — span different eras and positions, which makes a single “greatest” hard to pin down. Carter holds the scoring records, McCaw has the trophies, and Lomu changed how the game was played.

Who has never beaten the All Blacks?

Scotland hold the unwanted record: they have faced New Zealand 32 times without a single win. That makes them the only Tier 1 rugby nation never to have beaten the All Blacks.

Which teams have never beaten New Zealand?

• Scotland — 0 wins in 32 matches (the longest winless streak against NZ among all nations)
• Samoa — 0 wins in 7 matches
• Canada — 0 wins in 6 matches
• Fiji — 0 wins in 4 matches (though matches have been close)
• Tonga — 0 wins in 3 matches
• Japan — 0 wins in 2 matches (though Japan famously drew 22-22 in 1979)

Why this matters: Scotland’s 0-32 record is the starkest statistical outlier in international rugby. No other Tier 1 nation has such a lopsided head-to-head with any opponent.

What is the latest news on Wales vs New Zealand 2025?

The 2025 match took place on 22 November at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with New Zealand winning 52-26. TNT Sports reported the All Blacks pulled clear in the second half after Wales briefly threatened through a Tom Rogers hat-trick.

2025 match result

• Date: 22 November 2025
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff (roof closed, per All Blacks official highlights)
• Attendance: reportedly 68,388
• Half-time score: New Zealand led at the break
• Final score: New Zealand 52, Wales 26
• Wales tries: Tom Rogers (3)

Key moments and highlights

• Tom Rogers scored a hat-trick for Wales, the first Welsh player to do so against New Zealand in decades (YouTube full match coverage)
• The All Blacks pulled away late in the second half with three unanswered tries
• All Blacks official site described it as a “fiery clash” and noted it was New Zealand’s final game of the 2025 season
• The win extended New Zealand’s unbeaten run against Wales to a record 34 matches, according to commentary on the broadcast

Timeline: Wales vs New Zealand through the decades

• 1905: First ever meeting; Wales win 3-0 at Cardiff Arms Park
• 1935: Wales win 13-12 at St Helen’s, Swansea
• 1953: Wales’ last win, 13-8 at Cardiff Arms Park
• 2003: Rugby World Cup pool match; New Zealand win 53-7 — the biggest margin in the fixture’s history
• 2025: New Zealand win 52-26 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff

The pattern: each Welsh win came in the first half of the 20th century. Since 1953, New Zealand have won every match, often by large margins. The gap is not just about results — it reflects how professional rugby investment and depth have diverged between the two nations.

What we know vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Wales have beaten New Zealand three times (1905, 1935, 1953) — TNT Sports
• Scotland has never beaten the All Blacks in 32 attempts — widely documented in rugby records
• The 2025 match at Principality Stadium ended New Zealand 52-26 Wales — All Blacks official site
• BBC broadcasts Wales home internationals — confirmed by the Autumn Nations Series broadcast agreements
• Tom Rogers scored a hat-trick for Wales in the 2025 match — YouTube match coverage

What’s unclear

• Exact lineups for the 2026 match are not yet announced — scheduling and squad selection are pending
• The 2025 kick-off time was 17:15 GMT, but should be verified against official broadcast schedules
• Full attendance figures for 2025 (68,388 from one source) await official confirmation from Principality Stadium

What the commentators said

“The All Blacks pulled clear to down spirited Wales, who fought hard through a Tom Rogers hat-trick.”

— TNT Sports match report

“Wales’ three wins over New Zealand — 1905, 1935 and 1953 — are cherished chapters in Welsh rugby history, each with its own story of defiance against the odds.”

— Rugby historical analysis via TNT Sports

“The roof was shut, the crowd was loud, and this All Blacks side finished their 2025 season with a statement win on the road.”

— All Blacks official site

“New Zealand ended the year by running up half a century against Wales, a reminder of the gap that remains between these two proud rugby nations.”

— All Blacks highlights commentary

The recurring theme across every match report: Wales can produce moments of brilliance — Rogers’ hat-trick in 2025 is the latest example — but New Zealand’s depth, conditioning, and finishing ability have created a chasm that has lasted seven decades.

For Welsh rugby supporters, the 2025 defeat is not a surprise, but it carries a sting precisely because of those three distant victories. The gap between “we have beaten them before” and “we can beat them again” is now 72 years and counting.

While the All Blacks have dominated Wales at Eden Park, another New Zealand side has also made history there — our guide to the All Whites at Eden Park covers that milestone match.

Frequently asked questions