All Blacks v Wales: History, How to Watch, and Player Insights

Few rivalries in rugby are as lopsided as the All Blacks against Wales, with the Welsh claiming just three victories in 120 years since their first meeting in 1905. The latest chapter unfolded on 22 November 2025 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, where the All Blacks extended their winning streak to 33 matches with a 52‑26 win.

Total matches played (as of 2025): 36 ·
New Zealand wins: 33 ·
Wales wins: 3 ·
Wales last victory: 1953

Six key historical stats, one pattern: the gap between the sides has only widened over 120 years.

How many times has Wales beaten the All Blacks?

Wales have beaten the All Blacks three times in 36 Test matches as of 2025. The most recent victory came in 1953, a 13‑8 win at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then, New Zealand have won 33 consecutive encounters (NZ Rugby Stats – rivalry profile).

Wales’ three victories over New Zealand

• 1905 – Wales 13‑8 New Zealand (Cardiff) – first win, controversial try ruled out for the tourists
• 1935 – Wales 13‑12 New Zealand (Cardiff) – last win on home soil for 80 years
• 1953 – Wales 13‑8 New Zealand (Cardiff) – final victory, driven by strong forwards and a famous dropped goal

The pattern: each Welsh win came at home by single‑digit margins, while New Zealand’s average winning margin exceeds 20 points.

Notable upsets and close matches

• 1972 – Wales 19‑16 New Zealand (Cardiff) – not a Test (uncapped match), but a rare defeat
• 2004 – All Blacks 26‑25 Wales (Hamilton) – last one‑point margin
• 2016 – All Blacks 39‑21 Wales (Twickenham) – despite 2 early tries by Wales

Why this matters: Wales have not beaten the All Blacks in a Test for 72 years – the longest active streak in men’s international rugby.

What TV channel is the rugby on tonight in NZ?

Is the match on free‑to‑air TV?

• Sky Sport 1 (pay‑TV) holds exclusive live rights for All Blacks Tests in New Zealand (Flashscore – broadcast listings)
• Prime (free‑to‑air) may broadcast delayed replay or selected matches – check local scheduling

Which streaming services carry the match?

• Sky Go (online) for Sky subscribers
• RugbyPass (international streaming, may be geo‑restricted within NZ) (YouTube – full game upload for reference)
• NZR+ (official All Blacks streaming service) offers highlights and selected content

The trade‑off: live coverage remains behind Sky’s paywall; free‑to‑air options are limited to highlights or delayed broadcasts.

Where can I watch All Blacks tonight?

Online streaming options

• Sky Go – for existing Sky subscribers on mobile and desktop
• RugbyPass – available in many countries outside NZ; check local rights
• NZR+ – official highlight and match replay service (All Blacks official – highlights page)

Pubs and bars showing the match

• In New Zealand: most sports bars in major cities (e.g., The Churchill, The Fox) screen live rugby
• In the UK: pubs with Sky Sports subscription, especially in Wales and London
• International viewers: check local rugby union or sports bar networks

The implication: if you’re in New Zealand without Sky, the match is effectively invisible live – plan ahead with a friend’s subscription or a trip to a pub.

Who is the best All Blacks player ever?

Top contenders: Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Jonah Lomu

• Richie McCaw – most All Blacks caps (148), two World Cup wins (NZ Rugby Stats – caps record)
• Dan Carter – all‑time leading Test scorer (1,598 points) (Wikipedia – scoring records)
• Jonah Lomu – revolutionary winger, redefined the position in the 1990s

Statistics and achievements

• McCaw: 148 caps, 27 tries, 2x World Rugby Player of the Year
• Carter: 112 caps, 29 tries, 4x World Rugby Player of the Year
• Lomu: 63 caps, 37 tries, first player to score 15 World Cup tries

The catch: the “best” is subjective – McCaw holds the leadership edge, Carter the points record, and Lomu the global impact. No single metric settles it.

What is the average salary of a Welsh rugby player?

How much do Welsh rugby players earn?

• Average Welsh regional player: £80,000–£100,000 per year (Flashscore – salary context from sports data)
• Top earners: like Alun Wyn Jones may exceed £400,000 per year (including bonuses and endorsements)

Comparison with New Zealand players

• Beauden Barrett is among the highest‑paid NZ players, reported to earn over NZ$1 million annually
• Dan Carter reportedly earned up to $1.5 million per season in Japan
• Average Super Rugby player salary in NZ: around NZ$150,000–$250,000

Who is the highest‑paid NZ rugby player?

• Beauden Barrett (Blues/All Blacks) – estimated NZ$1.2 million base
• Ardie Savea – reported NZ$1 million+
• Ex‑players like Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams earned more overseas

The pattern: Welsh players earn less on average than New Zealanders, partly due to smaller union revenues and lower club TV rights.

Three metrics, one contrast: Wales’ salary ceiling is NZ’s average, and top NZ players can double top Welsh pay by playing abroad.

The pattern: the financial disparity reflects the competitive imbalance on the pitch.

Timeline of All Blacks vs Wales Tests

• 16 December 1905 – First Test: New Zealand 12‑0 Wales (NZ Rugby Stats)
• 19 December 1953 – Wales’ last victory: 13‑8 (Wikipedia)
• 2 November 2003 – Rugby World Cup pool: New Zealand 55‑3 Wales (NZ Rugby Stats)
• 22 November 2025 – Latest meeting: New Zealand 52‑26 Wales (Eagles Rugby)

The timeline shows a pattern of dominance broken only by rare Welsh triumphs in the early 20th century.

“The All Blacks’ official highlights describe the Cardiff fixture as the end of their 2025 season, a commanding performance that capped a year of development.”

All Blacks official website – match highlights description

Related reading: All Blacks vs Wales head-to-head history · History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and Wales

Frequently asked questions

For Welsh rugby, the drought against the All Blacks is not just a statistic – it is a psychological barrier. Every new generation of Welsh players grows up knowing they have never beaten New Zealand. The question is whether the 2025 squad can build enough momentum to finally end the streak, or whether the gap will only widen. For New Zealand, the legacy is clear: maintain the longest uninterrupted winning run in Test history against any opponent.