The Nations Championship sees the world’s best teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres go head-to-head across two connected series: three rounds in July (replacing the old summer tours) and three rounds in November (replacing the old autumn tests).

The first of Scotland’s home games in November is against the All Blacks. Ranked number two in the world, New Zealand were runners-up in the Rugby World Cup 2023 (losing by a single point to South Africa in the final) and returned to Scottish Gas Murrayfield in 2025 for the first time in three years. Last year’s epic saw Scotland fight back from being 0-17 down at half-time to level the scores going into the last quarter, only for a couple of moments of brilliance from substitute Damian McKenzie to give the All Blacks the win.

Tickets and Packages
As in previous years there will be a full range of 4-match, 3-match and 2-match packages available for Nations Championship games: full details of when these will go on sale will be confirmed shortly. The sale of individual match tickets for Scotland v New Zealand (and the other three games) will follow the sale of packages – again, details to be confirmed shortly.

Meanwhile, official hospitality packages are available to book now. Whether you want to book a room exclusively for you and your friends/guests, or host a table in a shared suite, there’s something to suit every need and budget. Find out more about the range of hospitality packages available now.

A range of Nations Championship travel packages (with match ticket included) are also available via Scottish Rugby Travel. Find out more about the travel packages.

Kyle Steyn scoring against New Zealand at Scottish Gas Murrayfield last year

Recent Scotland results against New Zealand

Huw Jones scores Scotland’s second try in the 2017 match

Classic Encounters

Scotland 23 – 31 New Zealand
13 November 2022

The last time the All Blacks came to Scottish Gas Murrayfield was another close affair. Having found themselves 0-14 down after only seven minutes, Scotland stormed back scoring 17 unanswered points to lead at half-time, and were 23-14 up going into the last quarter. As the match report on this website says, another one that got away! Watch the highlights HERE.

Scotland 25 – 25 New Zealand
12 November 1983

The closest Scotland have come to beating the All Blacks. With the score at 21-25 Scotland winger Jim Pollock scored a try in very last minute taking the game to 25-25 (a try was only worth four points in those days).  The difficult touchline conversion from Peter Dods missed the target by a whisker. This was the Scotland team that went on to win its first Five Nations Grand Slam for 59 years the following Spring. You can watch some rare footage HERE. (There was a strike at the BBC that day so the match was never broadcast live in the UK.)

Scotland 9 – 14 New Zealand
16 December 1972

Another close game against Ian Kirkpatrick’s All Blacks and a Scotland team packed with now famous names: Ian McLauchlan, Sandy Carmichael, Gordon Brown, Peter Brown and, winning their first caps, Andy Irvine and Ian McGeechan.

Andy Irvine’s Amazing Debut
“May I take that full-back of yours back to Llanelli with me?” That was Carwyn James talking after the Scotland v New Zealand match at Murrayfield on 16 December 1972. The famous coach of the history-making 1971 Lions was referring to Andrew Irvine. It was in that 1972 New Zealand match that he gained his first cap, as did Ian McGeechan. It was the brilliance of Irvine’s debut performance that had Carwyn James extolling his virtues. He recognised right away that here was a player with not only inordinately high skill levels but a spirit of adventure and a highly developed instinct for what was on. It was some debut for the 21 year-old. He hit the international scene like a stray meteorite. Apart from missing a couple of left-foot touches, he caught everything, the second of his huge penalty goals cut the New Zealand lead to 10-9 with ten minutes to go and, as one report had it, “he simply lit up Murrayfield with his electric running.” It came out later that he had to have a mouth wound stitched after the match, having decided not to have it treated at half-time lest the medicos didn’t let him on again!
Taken from Bill McLaren’s article in the 1978 Scotland v New Zealand match programme.

1972: Peter Brown (left) Ian McLauchlan (headband, on ground) Sandy Carmichael (headband, right) and Alex Wylie (with ball).