Ireland to Face All Blacks at Eden Park in 2026 as Part of New Nations Championship
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Ireland will tour New Zealand in July 2026 to play the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland, as part of a new global rugby competition and a series of home tests for New Zealand. This match is a key fixture in the All Blacks’ 2026 schedule, which also includes games against France and Italy.
2026 All Blacks Summer Series Schedule
New Zealand Rugby has announced a compelling summer series for 2026, kicking off with the inaugural match of the new 12-team Nations Championship. Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed schedule:
* July 4th, 2026: All Blacks vs. France at One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/rugby/all-blacks-2026-test-schedule-revealed-including-christchurch-eden-park-matches.html
* July 11th, 2026: All Blacks vs. Italy at Sky Stadium, Wellington. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/rugby/all-blacks-2026-test-schedule-revealed-including-christchurch-eden-park-matches.html
* July 18th, 2026: All Blacks vs. Ireland at Eden Park, Auckland.https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/rugby/all-blacks-2026-test-schedule-revealed-including-christchurch-eden-park-matches.html
* October 10th, 2026: All Blacks vs. Australia (Bledisloe Cup) https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/all-blacks-2026-fixtures-confirmed-including-france-ireland-and-australia-tests
Ireland’s Historic Visits to Eden Park
Ireland has faced the All Blacks at Eden Park three times previously, dating back to 1976, and has yet to secure a victory at the iconic venue. The All Blacks boast an extraordinary unbeaten streak of 52 tests at Eden Park. https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/all-blacks-2026-fixtures-confirmed-including-france-ireland-and-australia-tests The 2026 match will be a significant challenge for Andy farrell’s team as they attempt to break this long-standing record.
New Nations Championship
The 2026 series marks the beginning of a new era for international rugby with the launch of a 12-team Nations Championship. This competition aims to provide more consistent and meaningful test matches for top-tier rugby nations. https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/all-blacks-2026-fixtures-confirmed-including-france-ireland-and-australia-tests
Scott robertson’s Perspective
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming series,stating,”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.” He also highlighted the historic meaning of the