AUCKLAND — New Zealand and Australia will open the 2026 Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, 10 October, with kick-off set for 7pm local time in the first of a two-match series.
The fixture carries huge weight for both sides. New Zealand have held the Bledisloe Cup for 22 years and are unbeaten at fortress Eden Park since 1994, while Australia arrive fresh from an astonishing 42-38 victory against world champions South Africa — a match in which the Wallabies were down to just 11 men.
Fans in Australia can watch live via Stan Sports and in New Zealand via Sky Sport NZ. In the UK the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event with a 7.10am start. There is no free stream option, but viewers in the UK can also access the game through Sky’s sports pass service at NowTV via a day, week or month pass.
Australia have named Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Fraser McReight, Harry Potter, Tom Wright and Ryan Lonergan in their Bledisloe squad, with notable absences including Charlie Cale, Josh Flook, Langi Gleeson and Will Skelton. Veteran hooker Codie Taylor will captain New Zealand in the absence of injured skipper Ardie Savea, while Scott Barrett returns after a lengthy spell on the sidelines and Shannon Frizell is back in the international set-up for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. New Zealand are without Savea, fly-half Ruben Love, Luke Jacobson, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor and Caleb Clarke.
The series will conclude with the second fixture in Sydney on 17 October, with the Wallabies aiming to end New Zealand’s long hold on the trophy and the All Blacks looking to extend their dominance on home soil.