All Blacks XV to Face Barbarians in Blockbuster London Clash

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The sides last met at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022, the first international rugby game on the ground, when the Barbarians, then coached by Scott Robertson, won 35-31.

The All Blacks XV is now 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 (38-24) in Limerick and Georgia (31-13) in Montpellier.

New Zealand Rugby's general manager, professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum, said, "There is history between the Barbarians and the All Blacks XV, so we know this will be a competitive and exciting match for the fans and players.

"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 All Blacks and the Barbarians have played 11 times, with the All Blacks winning eight of the games and one drawn, in 1974. The Barbarians won in 1973 and 2009.

The president of the Barbarian Football Club, John Spencer, said, "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 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 the 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."

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