Wales vs New Zealand: Kickoff, Injury Updates and Nations Championship Stakes — Nov. 11, 2026

Information checked November 11, 2026 at 2:30 PM, Cardiff, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+00:00).

Wales host New Zealand at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, November 14, 2026, with kickoff set for 2:10 p.m. GMT (14:10 UTC). The Nations Championship round-five meeting comes after Wales beat Japan 28–21 and the All Blacks defeated Scotland 43–21 in their November openers. New Zealand will be without wing Will Jordan after a hamstring injury, making selection news a major part of the buildup.

The game has significance beyond a traditional autumn international: the teams are competing for points in their respective hemisphere standings ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London. Wales is looking to build on its home win, while New Zealand entered this week level with South Africa on points at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings. No result for the November 14 game is available because it has not yet been played.

Destaques

• Kickoff: Saturday, November 14, at 2:10 p.m. in Cardiff, GMT (UTC+00:00), or 14:10 UTC.
• Venue and competition: Principality Stadium, Cardiff; round five of the 2026 Nations Championship.
• Recent form: Wales beat Japan 28–21 on November 7; New Zealand beat Scotland 43–21 the same day.
• Team news: Will Jordan is ruled out for New Zealand; Aaron Wainwright's availability for Wales remained uncertain in the latest reports checked. Confirmed matchday XVs were not yet listed on the official match page.

What time is Wales vs New Zealand, and where is the match?

The official World Rugby match center confirms Saturday, November 14, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Welsh Rugby Union's fixture schedule confirms kickoff at 14:10 in Wales.

Cardiff is on GMT (UTC+00:00) on November 14, after the United Kingdom's autumn clock change. Thus the local kickoff and UTC are the same: 2:10 p.m. GMT / 14:10 UTC on Saturday, November 14. In New Zealand, it will be 3:10 a.m. New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT, UTC+13:00) on Sunday, November 15. The date changes when the time is converted across those time zones.

World Rugby lists French official Pierre Brousset as referee, with Nic Berry and Luc Ramos assisting, Tual Trainini as television match official and Leo Colgan as foul play review officer. Supporters should use the official event or union sites for any late operational changes.

What is the latest Wales vs All Blacks team news?

There is an important distinction between a tour squad and the confirmed 23 players selected for a particular Test. As of this check on November 11, the official World Rugby fixture page did not display completed starting lineups and replacements for Wales versus New Zealand. The players listed in previously announced squads should not be presented as confirmed starters.

Who is in the Wales squad, and will Aaron Wainwright play?

Wales head coach Steve Tandy named a 39-player squad for the November Nations Championship matches, with hooker Dewi Lake designated captain. The Welsh Rugby Union announcement includes Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, Tomos Williams, Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright and Dafydd Jenkins among the wider group. These are squad selections, not a published starting XV for the All Blacks match.

Wainwright was reported to be managing a leg problem after the Japan game and missed a training session ahead of New Zealand. Wales assistant coach Dan Lydiate indicated his availability was still being assessed, according to reporting on his injury update. Taine Basham and Taine Plumtree were mentioned as possible back-row alternatives if a change proves necessary. That is a selection possibility, not a confirmed replacement.

Which All Blacks players are available for Cardiff?

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie named a northern-tour squad captained by hooker Codie Taylor, with players including Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Wallace Sititi and Cam Roigard. The All Blacks' official squad release also recorded Ardie Savea among players unavailable for the tour because of injury.

Will Jordan sustained a hamstring tear against Scotland and will not be considered for the Wales Test, assistant coach Neil Barnes said in an update reported by Reuters on November 10. His status for later matches requires further assessment. Jordie Barrett passed subsequent head injury checks after leaving the Scotland game, but was not expected to feature in Cardiff, according to the same reporting. Passing those checks should not be confused with confirmation of selection.

How did Wales and New Zealand perform in their previous matches?

Wales' 28–21 home victory over Japan on November 7 included four Welsh tries, with Josh Adams scoring twice and Archie Griffin and Louis Rees-Zammit also crossing. Japan kept the contest close to the finish, a reminder that the Welsh attack produced encouraging passages without removing the pressure on defensive organization. The score and tries are recorded by the Japan Rugby Football Union's results page.

New Zealand produced seven tries in its 43–21 win in Edinburgh, with Beauden Barrett scoring twice. Scotland remained within three points at halftime before the All Blacks controlled the second half. The All Blacks' match account provides the scoring and coach's reaction. Those performances are evidence of recent form, not a guarantee of what will happen in Cardiff.

What does Wales vs New Zealand mean for the Nations Championship standings?

The new competition brings together six teams from the Six Nations and six opponents from the Southern Hemisphere grouping, including Japan and Fiji. Each side plays six cross-hemisphere matches across July and November, with the standings used to determine the rankings for Finals Weekend. The WRU's competition guide sets out four points for a win, two for a draw and bonus-point opportunities for scoring four tries or losing by seven points or fewer.

Following round four, New Zealand Rugby's standings review placed the All Blacks and South Africa level on 20 points, with South Africa ahead on points difference. Wales had 10 points and was fifth in the Northern Hemisphere standings. Those figures describe the table after the November 7 round, not a projected position after Wales versus New Zealand.

The sides then have one more round of regular fixtures: Wales hosts Australia on November 21, while New Zealand plays England in London that day. Finals Weekend takes place at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, from November 27–29, 2026, with similarly ranked teams from the two hemisphere tables paired for final placing matches. A result in Cardiff could affect rankings, bonus points and the eventual opponent, but the exact consequences depend on other results.

What could decide the match at Principality Stadium?

The most useful indicators to watch are set-piece possession, penalties, kicking accuracy and how efficiently each team finishes chances. Wales will want its backline to create opportunities similar to those seen against Japan, while avoiding the periods of pressure that allowed Japan to stay within one score. New Zealand showed in Edinburgh how quickly a tight game can turn when its defense, territory management and attack work together after halftime.

Selection could change the tactical picture. Jordan's confirmed absence removes one attacking option for the All Blacks, but the full impact cannot be evaluated until Rennie announces his matchday side. Similarly, Wales' back-row balance will depend in part on Wainwright's fitness and Tandy's final selections. These are factors to monitor, not predictions of a winner or a final score.

What happened in the last Wales vs New Zealand meeting?

New Zealand beat Wales 52–26 in Cardiff in November 2025. Despite that defeat, Welsh wing Tom Rogers scored a hat trick, an achievement highlighted in the WRU's 2026 fixture announcement. That historical result is separate from the still-upcoming November 14, 2026, fixture.

Where can fans watch Wales vs New Zealand?

The Welsh Rugby Union says its November Nations Championship home matches are live on ITV and S4C. New Zealand Rugby lists Sky Sport for its northern-tour Tests in New Zealand. Coverage, subscriptions and streaming access can vary by territory, so supporters elsewhere should check a licensed broadcaster in their own market. The official All Blacks match blog is another source for in-game updates and the eventual score.

FAQ

When does Wales vs New Zealand kick off?

Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 2:10 p.m. in Cardiff, GMT (UTC+00:00), equivalent to 14:10 UTC.

Have the Wales and New Zealand starting lineups been confirmed?

Not in the official match information checked on November 11. The wider squads have been named, but the matchday XVs and benches should be verified when formally released.

Is Wales vs New Zealand a Nations Championship match?

Yes. It is a round-five fixture in the inaugural 2026 Nations Championship, with results counting toward each hemisphere's standings before Finals Weekend in London.