Barbarians name their next huge fixture as shock London destination ‘delighted’ to host ‘iconic’ side
Barbarians line up much-anticipated rematch against the All Blacks XV
The Barbarians will face the All Blacks XV in London this autumn, looking to repeat their famous Killik Cup victory of 2022. Taking place on Saturday, 1st November, at 1.15 pm local time, the match will be held at the London GTech Community Stadium in Brentford.
President of Barbarian FC, John Spencer, is looking forward to the exhibition fixture, saying: “The Barbarians and the All Blacks XV are two of the most iconic names in rugby, and it is great to see them come together for another huge occasion this autumn in London.
“Fixtures between the Barbarians and New Zealand sides stretch back more than 70 years and include the game’s ‘greatest try’ by Gareth Edwards in 1973. We know this November’s game will be another entertaining encounter.
“It will be an honour for the players who are invited to join and represent our club to take on and test themselves against one of the best sides in the world.
“The chance to see the Barbarians in their famous black and white hoops taking on the All Blacks XV in the capital isn’t to be missed, and we know supporters will be as excited as we are for this game.”
The future All Blacks
The All Blacks XV is a key part of New Zealand’s high-performance rugby pathway; a team designed to develop and showcase the next tier of Test-ready talent.
Last year, the All Blacks XV beat Munster at Thomond Park and they also put Georgia to the sword in Montpellier as they showcased some of the best young talents in New Zealand.
The relationship between the All Blacks and the Barbarians stretches back to 1954, when the All Blacks won their first-ever match-up at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then, there have been a number of thrilling matches between the two sides, with the last official ‘capped’ match coming in 2017 at Twickenham. To date, the All Blacks have eight wins, the Barbarians two, with the 1974 fixture ending in a 13-13 draw.
This time around, it will not be the full-strength All Blacks side, but a derivative of it. But all the same, expect the XV to come out firing with something to prove.
A total of 173 Kiwis have pulled on the famous black and white Barbarians jersey over the years, including All Blacks legends Zinzan Brooke, Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Justin Marshall, Carlos Spencer, Joe Rokocoko, Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, Jerome Kaino and, more recently, All Black captains Sam Whitelock and Sam Cane to name a few.
Chris Lendrum, New Zealand Rugby general manager professional rugby and performance, is looking forward to the latest chapter in the relationship between the Barbarians and the All Blacks XV in November:
“There’s history between the Barbarians and the All Blacks XV, so we know this will be a competitive and exciting match for the fans and for the players,” said Lendrum.
“The All Blacks XV are a critical development pathway for New Zealand Rugby. Growing our next tier of talent is crucial as we look towards a busy international calendar in 2026 and 2027. It’s important for this team to face a variety of high-quality opponents each year to continue progressing, and the Barbarians are no exception.”
The rematch
The Barbarians are set to face the All Blacks XV for only the second time, following their thrilling first encounter in 2022 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In what was the first international rugby match ever played at the iconic football stadium, the then All Blacks coach-in-waiting Scott Robertson led a star-studded Barbarians side to victory over the All Blacks XV, winning 35-31.
November’s rematch will mark a new piece of Barbarians history, with the club running out at Gtech Community Stadium for the first time ever. Brentford FC’s commercial director Fran Jones said: “We’re delighted to be hosting the Barbarians and the All Blacks XV at the Gtech Community Stadium for the very first time.
“It’s a privilege to welcome two iconic sides to Brentford. This fixture promises to be an exciting occasion, showcasing big names alongside rising talent in the sport. We look forward to opening our doors to rugby fans and giving them a day to remember.”
