Ireland’s summer Test at Eden Park confirmed

Ireland will take on the All Blacks in a July Test match at Eden Park next summer, New Zealand Rugby announced.

Andy Farrell’s team will be one of three Six Nations teams to travel to New Zealand for the All Blacks’ summer series.

The All Blacks open their 2026 test season against France at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, more than 15 years after a devastating earthquake hit the city.

The team have played only five times in Christchurch since the earthquake, which led to the demolition of Lancaster Park.

The season opener will start on 4 July in the new-look, 12-team Nations Championship followed by home matches against Italy at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on 11 July and Ireland at Auckland’s Eden Park on 18 July.

Ireland’s visit to Eden Park will be their fourth in New Zealand since their first visit New Zealand in 1976. They have never won at Eden Park, a venue where The All Blacks’ have an unbeaten streak of 52 tests.

That record will face significant challenges in 2026, first against Ireland and then during the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia on October 10.

All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson said: “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. It will be an historic occasion for Christchurch at the new stadium.

“We know Italy will be highly motivated as we start the Nations Championship and, as always, we will walk toward the challenge of defending our record at Eden Park against Ireland and Australia.”