England 'A' to host All Blacks XV
NEWS: The England ‘A’ side will return with a fixture against All Blacks XV at The Recreation Ground, Bath.
England will host the historic meeting at the home of the current PREM Rugby champions, Bath, on Saturday, November 8.
This is the first match between the unions’ high-performance pathway teams, with England having previously faced the All Blacks XV when they were known as New Zealand ‘A’.
England ‘A’ will look to continue their unbeaten run since the team’s return in 2023, whilst the All Blacks XV managed an unbeaten 2024 Northern Hemisphere tour to set up a finely poised encounter.
England ‘A’ provides a platform for players transitioning from PREM Rugby and the pathway at Under-20 level to the senior men’s team.
Of those that represented the A side in the 2024/25 season, 10 players went on to earn their senior men’s debut for England.
The All Blacks XV are 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.
A coaching team will be chosen by the Rugby Football Union in consultation with PREM Rugby, with the selection of the match day 23 determined by senior men’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, and RFU Executive Director of Performance, Conor O’Shea.
Conor O’Shea said: “Any time a side representing New Zealand has set foot on English soil, it serves up a fantastic fixture and is a fitting opening to an exciting and challenging campaign for the England A team.
“The men’s A’ programme has served our senior men’s team brilliantly in 2025, with a number of players earning what we hope to be the first of many caps.
“We look forward to developing the talents of a refreshed cohort in a testing international arena.
“The Recreation Ground has been a fantastic venue for the U20 Men in recent years with vibrant and youthful crowds that we’re confident will match the occasion of a touring All Blacks XV this November.”
Tarquin McDonald, Chief Executive Officer at Bath, said: “We are incredibly proud to host this clash between England ‘A’ and the All Blacks XV.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for fans to witness top-tier international talent at our home ground, and a proud moment for our club to see several of our own players representing England.
“We look forward to welcoming supporters from across the country for what will undoubtedly be a special occasion at the Rec.”
