Bledisloe Cup: The Legendary Trans-Tasman Rugby Rivalry

The Bledisloe Cup is the trophy contested between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australia Wallabies, and it is the oldest and most fiercely guarded prize in trans-Tasman rugby. First played for in 1931, it turns the regular Tests between the two neighbours into a season-long duel for bragging rights across the Tasman Sea.

This guide explains what the Bledisloe Cup is, how it began, who has won it most often, why Auckland’s Eden Park matters so much, the matches that defined the rivalry, and the rules that decide where the cup spends each year. Every figure below has been checked against official and primary rugby sources.

How did the Bledisloe Cup begin?

The Bledisloe Cup began in 1931, when Lord Bledisloe donated a large silver trophy for the national rugby teams of New Zealand and Australia to compete for. Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe, served as New Zealand’s Governor-General from 1930 to 1935 and was a keen supporter of the game. He wanted to give the regular tours between the two countries a permanent prize, and the cup he presented quickly became the centrepiece of the rivalry.

The first match for the trophy was played in Auckland in 1931, and New Zealand won it 20–13, with full-back Ron Bush kicking four penalties and a conversion. The following year the All Blacks toured Australia and took the 1932 series two Tests to one, cementing an early advantage that has shaped the contest ever since.

Was the first Bledisloe Cup match really disputed?

There is a long-running debate about which game counts as the true beginning, but the official record is settled. World Rugby and both national unions recognise the 1931 Auckland Test — won by New Zealand 20–13 — as the inaugural Bledisloe Cup encounter, with the trophy at stake from that first meeting. Some older accounts instead point to the 1932 series as the first full multi-Test contest, which New Zealand also won. Either way, the historical claim that Australia won the opening fixture is not how the trophy’s records read.

Who has won the Bledisloe Cup the most?

New Zealand has been by far the more successful nation, winning the Bledisloe Cup 53 times up to and including 2025, compared with 12 wins for Australia. Across more than 170 Tests between the sides, most records credit New Zealand with roughly 124 wins to Australia’s 45, with eight drawn. The All Blacks treat holding the cup as a point of national pride, which is a large part of why it so rarely leaves the country.

Australia has enjoyed genuine golden runs — most notably from 1998 to 2002, when the Wallabies held the cup for five straight years under coaches such as Rod Macqueen and Eddie Jones. Since then, however, the balance has tipped decisively in New Zealand’s favour.

How dominant has New Zealand been since 2003?

New Zealand has held the Bledisloe Cup every year since 2003, the longest unbroken run in the trophy’s history. Australia’s most recent success came in 2002, which means an entire generation of fans has never seen the Wallabies lift the cup. That grip has survived repeated changes in personnel and a full turnover of All Blacks coaches, from Sir Graham Henry through to the current era. In 2025 the All Blacks retained the trophy again by winning the series 2–0, sealing it with a 33–24 win at Eden Park.

Why is Eden Park such a fortress for the All Blacks?

Eden Park in Auckland is the single biggest factor in modern Bledisloe Cup history because Australia has not beaten New Zealand there since 1986. That year the Wallabies, captained by Andrew Slack, won 22–9 on the way to a series victory. No Australian side has managed it since, and the All Blacks have not lost to any team at the ground since France beat them there in 1994. When New Zealand needs a guaranteed venue for a decisive Test, Eden Park is almost always the choice.

The venue’s aura is real, but it is built on more than history: large, hostile crowds, damp Auckland winters that suit a fast handling game, and the settled confidence of a home side that expects to win. You can read more about the All Blacks’ record at Eden Park and how the streak has held up.

How do New Zealand’s other venues change the game?

New Zealand spreads home Tests around the country, and each venue rewards a different style of rugby. Sky Stadium in Wellington — the “Cake Tin” — is exposed to strong coastal winds that demand accurate kicking and disciplined forward play, while Dunedin’s fully roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium guarantees a dry ball and encourages fast, expansive attack. Eden Park remains the fortress, but the regional venues keep the rivalry alive from Auckland to the deep south.

Which Bledisloe Cup matches are the most famous?

The rivalry’s reputation rests on a handful of unforgettable Tests, led by the 2000 “match of the century” in Sydney. Others are remembered for a single decisive moment: John Eales, Australia’s goal-kicking lock, landed a last-minute penalty in Wellington in 2000 to win 24–23; scrum-half George Gregan produced a try-saving tackle on Jeff Wilson in 1994 at Sydney Football Stadium (Wikipedia) to seal a narrow Australian win; and in 2022 the All Blacks snatched a 39–37 victory at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium when referee Mathieu Raynal penalised Bernard Foley for time-wasting, letting Jordie Barrett score after the siren.

What made the 2000 “match of the century” so special?

On 15 July 2000 a world-record rugby crowd of 109,874 packed Stadium Australia in Sydney and watched the greatest Test many critics have ever seen. New Zealand tore out of the blocks to lead 24–0 inside the opening minutes, only for the Wallabies to fight back to 24–24 by half-time. The lead swung both ways in a frantic second half, and Australia looked to have won it late through a Jeremy Paul try — until Jonah Lomu powered over in the closing seconds to give the All Blacks a 39–35 win.

What role does the haka play in the rivalry?

The All Blacks perform a haka before every Test, and it is one of the most recognisable rituals in world sport. Against the Wallabies they use either the traditional “Ka Mate” or the team’s own “Kapa o Pango”, a challenge that speaks directly to the black jersey and the silver fern. The haka is a cultural statement rather than a tactic, but it sets an unmistakable tone before kick-off.

“Kapa o Pango” was written for the All Blacks by cultural expert Derek Lardelli and first performed in 2005 — not against Australia, but in a Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks at Carisbrook in Dunedin, led by captain Tana Umaga. It has since become a regular part of big occasions, including Bledisloe Cup matches, and shows that New Zealand’s match-day traditions continue to evolve.

How is the Bledisloe Cup actually decided?

The Bledisloe Cup is decided by a series each year, and the crucial rule favours whoever already holds it. If the sides win one Test each in a two-match series, or the games are drawn, the current holder keeps the cup rather than losing it in a playoff. That places huge pressure on the opening Test, because the challenging nation must win the series outright — a draw is not enough.

The number of matches has varied over the years. Two-Test series are common in seasons crowded by other commitments, while three-Test series give a cleaner, more decisive result. In most modern seasons the Bledisloe Tests also count toward the wider Rugby Championship, so a single Bledisloe game can decide points in two competitions at once.

What is next for the Bledisloe Cup?

New Zealand goes into the next series as holder, with the 2026 edition still to be decided as of September 2026. The year’s opening Test is set for Eden Park, and the series is being staged outside the Rugby Championship to give the trans-Tasman rivalry its own spotlight. From 2027 the fixture is also scheduled to feature ANZAC Day Tests and a return to a three-match format.

Beyond the fixtures, both unions rely on the contest to test emerging talent, with players coming through Super Rugby franchises and the same pathways that once produced legends like Richie McCaw and John Eales. It also remains a major commercial property, broadcast to a global audience and central to the finances of the game on both sides of the Tasman — including rivalries such as New Zealand’s Tests against France, whose 1994 win at Eden Park still stands out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who holds the Bledisloe Cup now?

New Zealand holds the Bledisloe Cup. The All Blacks have kept it every year since 2003 and retained it again in 2025, giving them the longest unbroken hold in the trophy’s history.

When did Australia last win the Bledisloe Cup?

Australia last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002, the final year of a five-year run from 1998 to 2002. The Wallabies have not reclaimed it since New Zealand took it back in 2003.

What happens if a Bledisloe Cup series is drawn?

If a series is level — for example one win each in a two-Test series, or drawn games — the nation that already holds the cup keeps it. There is no playoff, which is why winning the first Test is so important for the challenging side.

When did the Wallabies last win at Eden Park?

Australia last beat New Zealand at Eden Park in 1986, winning 22–9. No Australian side has won there since, and the All Blacks have not lost at the ground to anyone since France beat them there in 1994.

Does the Bledisloe Cup count toward the Rugby Championship?

Usually, yes. In most seasons the Bledisloe Tests between New Zealand and Australia also count as Rugby Championship matches, so the same game can affect both competitions. In 2026, however, the series is being played outside the Rugby Championship.