Barbarian F.C. is delighted to announce an unmissable fixture against the All Blacks XV in London this autumn.
Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium will host the clash on Saturday 1st November (kick-off: 1.15pm), with tickets on general sale at 10am, 8th August priced from just *£35 for Adults and *£17.50 for Kids (U16) via Ticketmaster and Brentford FC.
The Barbarians’ last three appearances in London have seen the invitational side record back-to-back wins over Fiji in 2024 and a World XV in 2023 – both at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – and against an All Blacks XV at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022.
John Spencer (President of Barbarian F.C.) is relishing a return to the English capital and an encounter with one of world rugby’s most-revered sides: “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,” he said.
“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 All Blacks XV is a key part of New Zealand’s high-performance rugby pathway; a teamdesigned to develop and showcase the next tier of Test-ready talent.
Last year’s northern hemisphere tour saw the All Blacks XV notch up victories over Munster (38-24) at Thomond Park in Limerick, and Georgia (31-13) at GGL Stadium in Montpellier – having also beaten Japan in 2023 and Ireland A in 2022.
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 AllBlacks 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 Barbarians will lock horns with the All Blacks XV for only the second time, following a high-octane debut meeting in 2022 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in what was the first-ever international rugby match held at the world-class venue.
With Scott Robertson (now Head Coach of the All Blacks) at the helm of an inspired and star-studded BaaBaas side, the hosts edged an exhilarating contest 35-31 – with Zach Mercer, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Joe Marchant, Teddy Thomas, Rhys Webb and Antoine Hastoy all on the scoresheet.
Before that clash, the BaaBaas and New Zealand’s top tier team the All Blacks had met 11 times. The All Blacks notched up eight wins, the Barbarians claimed two historic victories in 1973 and 2009, and 1974’s fixture ended in a 13-13 draw at Twickenham.
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 – and 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.”
