With three titles to their name, New Zealand are perennial Men’s Rugby World Cup contenders, and consistently sit near the top of the rankings.
They will arrive in Australia with a realistic expectation that they will top their pool and go deep into the tournament.
The All Blacks have a full suite of assets to help them through tournament play – a powerful scrum, an effective lineout, an assortment of dynamic athletes and an innate ability across the playing group to make smart decisions.
They also have a collection of rugby greats in their midst – Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea – motivated to win, having been involved in the 2019 and 2023 campaigns, in which the All Blacks finished third and second respectively.
In early 2026 the All Blacks installed a new coaching group, and so the team’s culture and attack patterns are likely to be revamped in the 18 months leading up to the tournament.
Players to watch
Cam Roigard
Scrum-half Roigard played a bit part for the All Blacks at the 2023 tournament, but he will be integral to their campaign in 2027. A brilliant runner who can break defences and kicks prodigiously off his left foot.
Caleb Clarke
A 108kg juggernaut on the wing, Clarke is not only enormously powerful and devastatingly quick, he’s impressive in the air, too.
Wallace Sititi
A powerful ball carrier and solid defender, back-row Sititi – the son of former Samoa captain Semo Sititi – brings the priceless ability of being able to dominate contact on both sides of the ball.
RWC icon
No-one has made a Rugby World Cup contribution quite like the late Jonah Lomu, who established himself as the biggest star in the game when he produced a devastating campaign in 1995 and followed it up with another incredible showing in 1999.
At 1.95m and 120kg, with the ability to run a sub-11 second 100m, Lomu scored 15 tries across two tournaments – leaving defenders scattered on the ground in his wake.
His first try in the 1995 semi-final against England, where he brushed off four defenders and then ran over the top of full-back Mike Catt, remains one of the most iconic 10 seconds in Rugby World Cup history.
RWC cult hero
The name Stephen Donald probably doesn’t resonate globally, but he’s a much-loved figure in New Zealand for his role in the Rugby World Cup 2011 final.
Not selected in the initial squad, Donald was called up for the last two weeks after a spate of injuries at fly-half and ended up on the bench for the final.
He hadn’t played for five weeks – he was on a fishing trip with friends when the All Blacks called him – and ended up playing 52 minutes of the final and kicking the winning penalty.
In 2014, the New Zealand government funded The Kick, a TV film of Donald’s Rugby World Cup story.
Head coach
Dave Rennie is a savvy, experienced operator with a track record of building cohesive cultures that enable his teams to play above the value of their individual parts.
At 62, he’s hugely experienced, having had coaching stints with the Chiefs, Glasgow Warriors, Australia and Kobe Steelers. He likes to build combative, athletic forward packs and encourage his teams to counter-attack from inside their own territory.
Most memorable match
Ireland 24-28 New Zealand – RWC 2023 quarter-final
The All Blacks' victory over Ireland at RWC 2023 in France is considered not just New Zealand’s greatest performance at a Rugby World Cup, but arguably one of the best the tournament has seen.
New Zealand played 20 minutes with 14 on the pitch following two yellow cards and then had to survive a 37-phase attack from Ireland in the last four minutes. Both teams were at the top of their game in a dramatic, relentless, high-skilled contest that was in the balance until the last act – a turnover by now-retired second-row Sam Whitelock.
Pool journey
2 October 2027 v Chile (Perth│Boorloo)
9 October v Australia (Sydney│Wangal)
15 October v Hong Kong China (Melbourne│Narrm)
If they top Pool A, New Zealand could be pitted against Spain/Canada, USA/Samoa/Japan or Tonga/Zimbabwe in Brisbane│Meeanjin. If they finish second in Pool A, they would also have a Round of 16 date in Brisbane│Meeanjin, likely against Japan or Samoa.
Did you know...?
All three Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in New Zealand, and the trilogy sparked a tourism boom.
Between 2000 and 2019, it was estimated that about one per cent of visitors to New Zealand came because of the films – traffic that was worth about NZ$33 million annually.
RWC history
Champions (3) - 1987, 2011, 2015
Finalists (2) - 1995, 2023
Third-place (3) - 1991, 2003, 2019
Fourth-place (1) - 1999
Quarter-finalists (1) - 2007
Key stats
New Zealand have won 54 of their 63 matches at Men's Rugby World Cups, and lost nine. Their 86 per cent win rate is the highest of any side in the competition’s history.
New Zealand have scored at least one try in each of their last 39 Men's Rugby World Cup matches, the longest streak of any side in tournament history. They last failed to cross the line against South Africa in the 1999 bronze final.
RWC Fast facts
- RWC debut: 1987
- RWC best finish: Champions (1987, 2011, 2015)
- Most RWC appearances: Samuel Whitelock (26)
- Top RWC try scorer: Jonah Lomu (15)
- Top RWC points scorer: Dan Carter (191)
