Aus v NZ 2025-2026: TV Schedule, History & Rivalry Guide

Few sporting clashes carry the weight of Australia versus New Zealand. Whether it’s the Wallabies chasing a rare win at Eden Park or the Kangaroos defending their league legacy, the trans-Tasman rivalry cuts across codes and decades.

All Blacks vs Wallabies head-to-head: NZ 125 wins, Aus 46 wins, 9 draws (as of 2024) ·
Last Wallabies win at Eden Park: 1986 ·
Kangaroos vs Kiwis head-to-head: Australia leads 122-54 (as of 2025) ·
Most recent Rugby Championship Test: New Zealand 33–13 Australia (2024)

Five key facts across both codes reveal the shape of the rivalry.

The pattern is clear: New Zealand dominates union, Australia leads league, but the gap in each code tells a different story.

Where to watch New Zealand v Australia?

Finding the right channel depends on where you’re watching from. The 2025 Rugby Championship match on 4 October will be available across multiple platforms in both countries.

Free-to-air options

• In Australia: Nine Network and 9Now will broadcast the match free-to-air (Rugby.com.au – official broadcaster).
• In New Zealand: Sky Open (Freeview channel 15) carries the match free-to-air, also available via Sky Go (Sky Open – free-to-air details).

Streaming services

• Stan Sport in Australia streams every Rugby Championship game (Rugby World – streaming guide).
• Sky Sport Now in New Zealand offers a paid streaming option (TechRadar – NZ streaming).

International broadcasting

• UK: Sky Sports (TechRadar – UK details).
• USA: FloRugby (TechRadar – US details).
• France: Canal+ (TechRadar – France).
• Japan: Wowow (TechRadar – Japan).
• Fiji: FBC free-to-air or Sky Pacific pay TV (TechRadar – Fiji).

The implication: free-to-air access exists in both home markets, but casual fans should check local listings as kickoff times vary – 5:45am ET in the US, for instance (Rugby World – time conversions).

What time is the ashes rugby kick off?

The term “ashes rugby” typically refers to the Rugby League Ashes series between Australia and New Zealand, but the 2025 Rugby Championship match is also a key event. For the 4 October 2025 Test:

Rugby League Ashes 2025 schedule

• Dates for the 2025 Rugby League Ashes have not yet been confirmed by the NRL (NRL – Ashes update). The next confirmed league meeting is the 2026 World Cup opener.

Time zone conversions for 4 October 2025 (Rugby Championship)

• 7:45pm AEST (Australia Eastern Standard Time)
• 10:45pm NZDT (New Zealand Daylight Time – check daylight saving status)
• 5:45am ET (US Eastern Time)
• 10:45am BST (UK British Summer Time)

Daylight saving applies in New Zealand from late September, so NZDT is used. Australian fans in states that observe daylight saving (NSW, Vic, Tas, ACT) will be on AEDT – effectively 8:45pm for those regions. The catch: early morning for US viewers, late evening for Australian fans.

Is The Wallabies vs All Blacks on free-to-air TV?

Yes – and the answer differs slightly between the two countries.

Free-to-air in Australia

• Nine Network and 9Now broadcast all Wallabies home Tests and matches against New Zealand free-to-air (Rugby.com.au – official partnership).

Free-to-air in New Zealand

• Sky Open (channel 15 on Freeview) carries the game free, with streaming via Sky Go (Sky Open – coverage).
• Sky Sport NZ also offers the match on its pay-TV platform (TechRadar – NZ options).

Pay-TV alternatives

• Stan Sport (Australia) – subscription required alongside 9Now (Rugby World – Stan Sport).
• Sky Sport Now (New Zealand) – daily or monthly passes available.

Why this matters: fans in Australia can watch for free with a digital antenna or the 9Now app, while New Zealand viewers need either a Freeview setup or a Sky Open subscription. For those outside the two countries, paid services like FloRugby or Sky Sports are the only option.

When was the last time Australia won at Eden Park?

The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986 – a drought that now stretches nearly 40 years. Let’s unpack that defining match and the subsequent streak.

The 1986 victory

• Date: 14 June 1986
• Score: Australia 22–9 New Zealand
• Venue: Eden Park, Auckland (Wikipedia – Eden Park match history)

Difficulties at Eden Park

Since that loss, the All Blacks have won every Test at Eden Park – a streak of more than 40 matches across all opponents. The ground has become a fortress: no team has beaten the All Blacks there since 1986.

Recent close calls

• 2022: Australia lost 27–37 after leading early (Rugby World – 2022 result).
• 2024: Australia lost 13–33 in the most recent Championship match (Rugby World – 2024 result).

The catch: until Australia breaks that 1986 curse, Eden Park remains the definitive symbol of trans-Tasman dominance.

Who is New Zealand’s biggest rival in rugby?

While the All Blacks have historic rivalries with South Africa and England, the answer for most New Zealanders is Australia. Here’s why.

The Australia rivalry

• Most frequent opponent: Australia has played New Zealand more than any other nation (over 170 Tests).
• Proximity: The trans-Tasman rivalry is fuelled by geography, shared culture, and regular competition in the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup.
• Head-to-head: New Zealand leads 125-46-9 (Wikipedia – H2H stats).

Other rivals: South Africa, England

• South Africa: The two sides have met 107 times, with New Zealand leading 62-39-6 (Wikipedia – NZ v SA). The rivalry dates back to 1921 and carries a different intensity, rooted in physical confrontations.
• England: Matches are rarer but carry historical weight, especially the 2019 World Cup semi-final.

Teams that have never beaten the All Blacks

• Italy (never won in 16 Tests)
• Canada (never won in 6 Tests)
• Fiji (never won in 7 Tests)
• Samoa (never won in 7 Tests)
• Japan (never won in 6 Tests – though they almost did in 2018) (Wikipedia – All Blacks records)

The implication: while South Africa and England are storied opponents, the depth of competition and frequency of clashes make Australia the All Blacks’ biggest rival by any measure.

Timeline of key moments

• 1903 – First Test match between Australia and New Zealand (Rugby Union) in Sydney (Wikipedia – First Test)
• 1986 – Last Wallabies win at Eden Park (22-9) (Wikipedia – Eden Park)
• 2024 – Most recent Rugby Championship Test: NZ 33–13 Aus (Rugby World – result)
• 2025 – Rugby Championship Round 6: Australia vs New Zealand in Perth (Rugby World – schedule)
• 2026 – Rugby League World Cup opening round: Australia vs New Zealand at Allianz Stadium (NRL – World Cup details)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Wallabies last won at Eden Park in 1986
• All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since then
• Australia has won 46 rugby union Tests against New Zealand
• All Blacks have never lost to Italy, Canada, Fiji, Samoa, or Japan
• First Test between the sides was in 1903

What’s still unclear

• Exact broadcasters for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup matches
• Whether all Ashes series rugby league matches will be free-to-air in Australia

Voices from the rivalry

It was hectic. You don’t really think about history when you’re out there, but afterwards you realise you’ve done something special.

— Wallabies player, reflecting on the 1986 Eden Park win (via Rugby.com.au – oral history)

There’s no bigger game for us than Australia. The Bledisloe Cup means everything to New Zealand rugby.

— Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, speaking in 2015 (via Rugby World – McCaw interview)

Summary

The Australia vs New Zealand rivalry is deeper than any one code. For the Wallabies fan in Perth, the 2025 Rugby Championship match is a chance to watch free-to-air on 9Now and hope for an Eden Park-style upset. For the All Blacks supporter in Auckland, it’s another opportunity to defend a fortress. The implication is clear: whichever country you’re in, you can watch the game without a pay-TV subscription – but the historical weight of the rivalry means no seat is better than the front row of the trans-Tasman story.

Frequently asked questions