All Blacks

All Blacks vs France

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All You Need to Know About the All Blacks Right Now

Meta-description: The All Blacks are basically a religion in New Zealand. If you've somehow missed the memo on these guys in their iconic black jerseys, here's a crash course

NZ's most famous sporting export, the All Blacks, have been dominating the rugby scene since way back in 1892 when New Zealand Rugby was formed. That black jersey essentially became the official uniform in 1893, and they've been striking fear into opponents with it ever since.

Based out of hubs in Wellington and Auckland, NZ Rugby isn't just about the elite team that performs the haka before matches. They connect with 26 Provincial Unions, managing Super Rugby teams, and working with everyone from government bigwigs to local clubs.

Their mission is pretty straightforward: they want to be the best rugby organisation on the planet, helping the sport thrive at every level. From producing world-class talent to creating competitions that fans actually want to watch, they're focused on keeping rugby strong from the grassroots to the professional level. Understanding the All Blacks means understanding an institution that's been woven into New Zealand's identity for over 130 years.

The All Blacks' 2025 campaign

The All Blacks have got a jam-packed 2025 that'll test their mettle against the world's best. After finishing behind the Springboks in last year's Rugby Championship, the men in black are hungry to reclaim their southern hemisphere crown and prove their dominance on the global stage.

The action kicks off in July with a series against France. The French, always formidable opponents, will face the All Blacks in three consecutive matches across New Zealand. The series begins at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 5th before moving to Wellington's Sky Stadium on July 12th and wrapping up at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on July 19th. These matches will be crucial for setting the tone for the year ahead.

Come August, the All Blacks hit the road for Argentina, with two matches against Los Pumas on the 16th and 23rd, though venues haven't yet been confirmed. The team then returns home for what many fans consider the highlight of the rugby calendar—the South Africa encounters. Eden Park in Auckland hosts the first clash on September 6th, followed by another showdown in Wellington on September 13th.

The Rugby Championship continues with the traditional Bledisloe Cup contests against Australia. First up is Eden Park on September 27th, followed by a trip across the Tasman to Perth's Optus Stadium on October 4th.

November sees them embark on their northern hemisphere tour, starting with a fascinating neutral-venue match against Ireland in Chicago on the 1st. They'll then face Scotland at Murrayfield (November 8th), England at Twickenham (November 15th), and finish against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (November 22nd).

With fourteen Test matches scheduled against nine different nations across three continents, 2025 shapes up as one of the most challenging and exciting years in recent All Blacks history. 

The latest from the All Blacks camp

The Super Rugby competition is heating up with just six rounds remaining, and All Blacks selectors will be keeping a keen eye on performances as they prepare for the upcoming July test series against France. Recent matches have offered plenty of insights into who might don the iconic black jersey come July.

The battle for the All Blacks' number 10 jersey continues to be one of the most fascinating subplots of the season. Beauden Barrett has emerged as the likely frontrunner, showing impressive composure for the Blues despite challenging conditions. Barrett, who was sidelined earlier in the season with a hand injury that saw the Blues drop three matches without him, has demonstrated his value with precise handling even on wet pitches.

His main competition, Damian McKenzie, isn't making the selectors' job any easier. Recently returning to flyhalf after a stint at fullback for the Chiefs, McKenzie put on a clinical display against the Highlanders, contributing five conversions and two penalties while orchestrating the Chiefs' attack with characteristic flair. McKenzie started in the first seven tests for the All Blacks last year before Barrett took over, and this healthy competition bodes well for the national team's depth.

In other All Blacks news, star centre Rieko Ioane is set to follow an increasingly common path among the New Zealand rugby elite by taking a sabbatical to play overseas. Interestingly, rather than heading to the lucrative Japanese league as many of his compatriots have done, Ioane will join Irish powerhouse Leinster. He'll be following in the footsteps of fellow All Black Jordie Barrett, who has been making waves with the Irish club this season and reportedly advised Ioane on the move.

While the Blues' recent form might be concerning—they've slipped to eighth place after a narrow 25-22 loss to the Crusaders—the individual performances of several All Blacks contenders continue to impress despite challenging weather conditions across New Zealand that have significantly reduced scoring in recent rounds.

The sabbatical debate with the All Blacks' European exodus

The All Blacks management finds itself in the middle of a brewing controversy as more top players opt for sabbaticals in Europe rather than the traditionally preferred Japanese market. The recent announcement that star centre Rieko Ioane will join Irish powerhouse Leinster has ignited a fresh debate about New Zealand Rugby's (NZR) sabbatical policy and its long-term implications for player welfare and domestic competitions.

Ioane follows fellow All Black Jordie Barrett to Ireland, marking a significant shift from the established pattern of All Blacks taking their contracted breaks in Japan—a market long considered less physically demanding and therefore better suited for players needing to recharge while still earning overseas income.

Critics have been vocal, with some rugby commentators labelling NZR's decision as "weak and short-sighted." The fundamental concern centres on player welfare—European rugby's intensely physical nature hardly constitutes the mental and physical break that sabbaticals were originally designed to provide. The cautionary tale of Dan Carter's Achilles injury during his stint with Perpignan in 2008 still looms large in New Zealand rugby memory, with many noting Carter never quite regained his pre-European form despite finishing his career on a high at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The sabbatical system, initially introduced to help retain top talent within New Zealand, has evolved considerably since its early days when players like Ali Williams used the time for genuine rest and limited appearances. The shift toward full-season competitive sabbaticals, especially in demanding European conditions, raises legitimate questions about whether these arrangements still serve their original purpose.

For Super Rugby, these absences create additional challenges. The Auckland Blues, already struggling in eighth place on the table, will feel Ioane's absence acutely when he departs. The practice potentially undermines the quality of domestic competition at a time when Super Rugby is working to rebuild its international profile.

While players naturally seek to maximise earnings during their relatively short careers, the wisdom of NZR sanctioning full-contact European sabbaticals remains hotly contested within New Zealand's passionate rugby community.

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