All Blacks vs Wales: Rivalry, Record and History

Few fixtures carry as much history as the All Blacks against Wales. It is a rugby union rivalry that stretches back more than 120 years to the legendary 1905 clash in Cardiff, and while the New Zealand All Blacks now hold an overwhelming record, the meeting still matters deeply to supporters in both countries. This guide walks through the head-to-head record, the three famous Welsh wins, the players who shaped the fixture, the tactics behind it and the most recent chapter written in Cardiff in November 2025. Every figure below has been checked against official statistics and match reports so you get an accurate picture rather than folklore.

How the rivalry began: 1905 and the “Match of the Century”

The rivalry started during the 1905 tour of the original All Blacks, when Wales became the first side to beat the touring New Zealanders, winning 3–0 at Cardiff Arms Park on 16 December 1905. The game is remembered as much for a disallowed try as for the result: New Zealand centre Bob Deans claimed he had grounded the ball for a levelling score, a decision Welsh and New Zealand fans still debate today. Billed at the time as the “Match of the Century”, it drew a crowd of around 47,000 and helped cement rugby as a national sport on both sides of the world.

That early defeat proved to be one of only three Welsh victories. New Zealand has since built one of the longest unbeaten runs in international sport against a single opponent, and the fixture has become a benchmark: for Wales, a measure of how far they have to climb; for the All Blacks, a test of a proud legacy. To understand how the modern game grew from these early tours, it helps to read about the wider history and evolution of rugby union.

Head-to-head record: what the numbers show

Across 38 official Test matches, New Zealand has won 35 and Wales 3, with no draws. New Zealand has scored 1,271 points to Wales’s 456 in the fixture, a gap that reflects both scoring power and defensive resilience. Since Wales’s last win on 19 December 1953, the All Blacks have won 34 consecutive encounters — a streak that spans more than seven decades.

The largest winning margin came on 23 June 2003, when New Zealand overwhelmed Wales 55–3 in Hamilton. In most meetings the pattern is similar: the All Blacks build their score through tries from a mobile forward pack and quick outside backs, while Wales lean more heavily on their kickers. The table below sets out the core record.

The three times Wales beat the All Blacks

It is worth acknowledging the rare occasions when Wales came out on top, because all three happened in Cardiff and gave the fixture its edge. After the 1905 win, Wales triumphed 13–12 in 1935 and 13–8 in 1953.

• 1905: Wales 3–0, Cardiff Arms Park — the first meeting and the “Match of the Century”.
• 1935: Wales 13–12, Cardiff — a narrow win secured late in the game.
• 1953: Wales 13–8, Cardiff — captained by Bleddyn Williams, with wing Ken Jones scoring the decisive try after a cross-kick from Clem Thomas.

The 1953 result remains the last time Wales beat New Zealand. Since then the closest they have come was a one-point loss in Cardiff in 2004, when the All Blacks edged home 26–25. Every subsequent meeting has ended in a New Zealand victory.

Players who defined the fixture

Individual brilliance runs through this rivalry. Dan Carter, New Zealand’s record points scorer and a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, was central to a run of All Blacks wins over Wales in the 2000s and 2010s and is widely regarded as the fixture’s leading points contributor. For Wales, fly-half Stephen Jones was the reliable goal-kicker who kept scorelines respectable across more than a decade of meetings, including a 20-point personal haul in the 2010 Test in Cardiff.

Modern All Blacks have added their own chapters. Beauden Barrett has been among the most prolific try-scorers against Wales, while flanker Richie McCaw and wing Shane Williams — a rare Welsh attacking spark of his era — are frequently cited as players who shaped how their teams approached the game. The full list of results and milestones is documented on Wikipedia.

The 2025 Cardiff Test and the Grand Slam that got away

In November 2025 the All Blacks toured the northern hemisphere chasing a Grand Slam — a clean sweep of all four Home Nations — for the first time since 2010. Under head coach Scott Robertson they beat Ireland in Chicago and Scotland at Murrayfield, but the dream ended at Twickenham on 16 November, where England won 33–19. That defeat meant the tour’s final leg in Cardiff, however emphatic, could no longer complete a Grand Slam.

New Zealand still finished the year strongly, beating Wales 52–26 at the Principality Stadium on 22 November 2025. The All Blacks led 24–14 at the break before pulling clear after half-time, running in seven tries through Caleb Clarke (two), Sevu Reece (two), Ruben Love, Tamaiti Williams and Rieko Ioane. Wales showed real fight, with wing Tom Rogers scoring a hat-trick, but could not live with New Zealand’s bench and pace in the closing quarter. It was the 34th consecutive win in the fixture and, notably, Wales’s highest score in an away meeting with the All Blacks.

Tactical themes: set-piece, defence and counter-attack

For much of the rivalry Wales have tried to slow the game down — building around a strong scrum, a rush defence and a territorial kicking game to deny the All Blacks space and rhythm. That approach has produced brave performances, but the modern New Zealand side is difficult to contain because its forwards can pass and offload like backs, keeping the ball alive through phases.

The 2025 match was a clear example: New Zealand turned Welsh handling errors into long-range tries and used the width of the pitch under the closed roof. Set-piece control and breakdown speed remain decisive, and readers who want the detail can explore set-piece strategies in rugby union to see how scrum and lineout platforms feed an attacking game. Following the wider latest All Blacks results and scores also shows how consistently this template travels across opponents.

Venues: fortresses on both sides of the world

The settings for this rivalry have evolved from the muddy pitches of the early 1900s to modern, roofed arenas. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium — opened as the Millennium Stadium in 1999 and renamed in 2016 — is often named by All Blacks players as a favourite away ground for its atmosphere and closing roof, which guarantees a fast surface whatever the weather. All three Welsh wins came before the current stadium existed, at Cardiff Arms Park and the old National Stadium.

In New Zealand the balance tilts even further. Dunedin’s roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium suits the All Blacks’ expansive style, while Eden Park in Auckland is the ultimate stronghold: New Zealand has not lost a Test there since a defeat to France in 1994, a run of more than 50 matches. Wales have never beaten the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in any of their visits.

Black Ferns vs Wales: the women’s rivalry

The men’s teams are not the only ones who meet. New Zealand’s Black Ferns and Wales Women have clashed on the biggest stage, most memorably at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup, which was played in New Zealand in 2022. The five-time world champions won both meetings comfortably.

The women’s game in New Zealand continues to grow, and matches like these draw increasing attention. For more on the leading side in the women’s game, see our guide to the Black Ferns.

Upcoming fixtures: 2026 and beyond

The next confirmed meeting comes in the new Nations Championship, a biennial competition that pairs the southern hemisphere sides with the Six Nations teams. Wales are scheduled to host New Zealand at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 14 November 2026, in the November window of that tournament. Beyond that, both nations are building toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where they could be drawn together again.

Fixture dates and windows can change as the international calendar is finalised, so it is worth confirming details closer to each match. Supporters tracking the wider schedule can follow coverage of the Rugby World Cup for the latest on qualification and pools.

The fixture in the betting markets

Because the All Blacks are such heavy favourites in this fixture, New Zealand bookmakers tend to frame it around handicap (points-start) and winning-margin markets rather than the outright result. This is context only: odds and markets move constantly, past results do not predict future outcomes, and no strategy or statistic can guarantee a return. Nothing in this article is betting advice or a tip.

Responsible gambling notice

This article is informational and is not gambling advice or encouragement to bet. Betting in New Zealand is restricted to adults, and any wager carries a risk of loss. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 or by texting 8006.

Frequently asked questions

Who won the most recent All Blacks vs Wales match?

New Zealand won 52–26 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 22 November 2025, extending their unbeaten run in the fixture to 34 matches.

How many times has Wales beaten the All Blacks?

Three times, all in Cardiff: 3–0 in 1905, 13–12 in 1935 and 13–8 in 1953. Wales has not beaten New Zealand since.

Has Wales ever beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand?

No. Across every Test played on New Zealand soil, Wales has yet to record a win against the All Blacks.

What is the largest winning margin in the fixture?

New Zealand’s 55–3 victory in Hamilton on 23 June 2003 is the biggest margin, a 52-point win.

When do the All Blacks and Wales play next?

They are scheduled to meet at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 14 November 2026 during the Nations Championship, with a possible further meeting at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.