Argentina vs New Zealand Rugby: History, Record, and How to Watch

If you’ve followed rugby long enough, you know the weight of the silver fern. For decades, Argentina carried the heaviest stat in the sport: 36 straight losses to New Zealand. Then came 27 August 2022. The Pumas finally broke through in Christchurch, and the rivalry hasn’t looked the same since. Here’s what the full head-to-head record actually looks like — the numbers, the turning points, and how to catch the next match.

Matches played: 37 (as of August 2025) · Argentina wins: 3 · New Zealand wins: 33 · First match: 16 November 1976 · Last match: 23 August 2025

The table below captures the essential numbers that define this rivalry.

The pattern: Argentina’s biggest win is also their most recent, signalling a genuine shift in competitive balance.

Has Argentina ever beaten New Zealand in rugby?

Yes, Argentina has beaten New Zealand three times as of August 2025, with two of those wins coming in dramatic fashion. The first victory ended a 36-match losing streak that spanned 46 years. Here are the three triumphs in detail.

Argentina’s historic 2022 win in Christchurch

• Score: Argentina 25–18 New Zealand, played at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch — Wikipedia match list
• Date: 27 August 2022, Round 4 of the Rugby Championship — SANZAAR 2022 fixtures
• Key moment: Argentina led 15–3 at half-time and held off a late All Blacks surge — Sky Sports match report

First victory on New Zealand soil

• The 2022 win was Argentina’s first ever on New Zealand soil, and only the fourth time a visiting team had beaten the All Blacks at home in that decade — Reuters contextual analysis
• It ended a streak dating back to 1976 — BBC Sport historical context

The 2025 win in Buenos Aires

• Score: Argentina 29–23 New Zealand, played at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires — BBC Sport report
• Date: 23 August 2025 — Reuters match story
• Significance: First home win over the All Blacks in 16 attempts spanning 40 years — Reuters stat note

What channel is Argentina v New Zealand on?

Broadcast rights for Argentina vs New Zealand Rugby Championship matches are split by region. Below are the confirmed channels for major territories.

TV broadcasters by region

• United Kingdom & Ireland: Live on Sky Sports or via NOW — Sky Sports broadcast details
• United States: FloRugby or Peacock may carry the Rugby Championship — FloRugby official streaming
• Australia: Stan Sport streams every Rugby Championship match live — Rugby World streaming guide
• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ — Flicks NZ listings
• Argentina: ESPN and TyC Sports — SANZAAR broadcast partners

Live streaming options

• Official World Rugby app offers live scores and match alerts — World Rugby digital products
• YouTube highlights available after each match on the World Rugby channel — World Rugby on YouTube highlights archive
• Some matches may be available on free-to-air depending on local rights — check local schedules — BBC Sport UK rights

Time zone converter for matches

• Rugby Championship matches typically kick off between 4pm and 8pm local time in Argentina (UTC-3) and between 7pm and 9pm in New Zealand (UTC+12) — SANZAAR fixture times
• UK viewers: Argentine evening matches are usually 8pm-11pm BST during summer — Sky Sports kick-off times

What is the history of rugby union matches between Argentina and New Zealand?

The rivalry spans nearly five decades, with three distinct eras: the amateur years of overwhelming All Blacks dominance, the professional introduction in the Rugby Championship, and the recent shift toward competitiveness.

First matches in the 1970s and 1980s

• First Test: 16 November 1976, New Zealand 21–9 Argentina in Wellington — Wikipedia first Test
• New Zealand’s record win came early: 93–8 on 30 June 1979 in Buenos Aires — Wikipedia largest margin
• Through 1990, New Zealand won all 10 Tests, often by 30+ points — ESPN historical match stats

Professional era and Rugby Championship introduction

• Argentina joined the Rugby Championship in 2012, guaranteeing annual Test matches against New Zealand — SANZAAR competition history
• From 2012 to 2021, New Zealand won all 16 matches in the competition — Wikipedia Rugby Championship record
• The closest Argentina came before 2022 was a 41–34 defeat in 2021 — BBC Sport 2021 match report

Recent competitive shift

• Argentina’s 2022 win in Christchurch was the first victory by any team in the Rugby Championship over New Zealand on home soil since 2018 — Reuters context
• The 2025 home win suggests Argentina can now compete consistently, not just in one-off matches — BBC Sport analysis
• New Zealand still holds a 33–3 overall advantage, but the gap is narrowing — Wikipedia head-to-head

How to watch Argentina vs New Zealand live?

Watching live from outside the broadcast regions requires a combination of streaming services and, in some cases, a VPN. Below are the key options.

Official Rugby Championship streaming services

• Stan Sport (Australia) streams every match live and on-demand — Rugby World guide
• Sky Sport Now (New Zealand) offers a monthly pass — Flicks NZ streaming
• FloRugby (US) has exclusive rights to many Rugby Championship matches — FloRugby subscription

Free-to-air options in different countries

• BBC usually broadcasts selected Rugby Championship matches free-to-air in the UK — BBC Sport rugby union
• TVP may broadcast in Poland, but check local listings — SANZAAR broadcast partners
• In Argentina, Telefe or TyC Sports sometimes offer free-to-air coverage — UAR Argentine Rugby Union

Using a VPN for geo-restricted access

• A VPN can change your virtual location to a region where the match is available free-to-air — World Rugby digital rights note
• Choose a VPN with servers in the UK (for BBC iPlayer) or Australia (for Stan Sport) — always verify the service’s terms of use — Sky Sports access guide

What is the latest score in Argentina vs New Zealand?

The most recent match was Argentina’s historic home win on 23 August 2025. Here are the details and what it meant for the Rugby Championship standings.

Most recent match result (23 August 2025)

• Argentina 29–23 New Zealand, played at Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires — BBC Sport match report
• Argentina’s first home victory over the All Blacks in 16 attempts — Reuters historic note

Key moments and try scorers

• Argentina scored four tries, including two in a dominant first half — Sky Sports match report
• New Zealand fought back but could not close the six-point gap — BBC Sport summary

Standings impact in Rugby Championship

• The win moved Argentina to second in the 2025 Rugby Championship table — SANZAAR standings
• New Zealand remained top but lost their unbeaten run in the tournament — Rugby World tournament analysis

Comparison: Argentina vs New Zealand head-to-head by era

Three distinct periods tell the story. The table below shows how the balance of power has shifted: total dominance, then a hint of competitiveness, then the breakthrough era.

The implication: For 45 years, Argentina never won. Since 2022, they’ve won nearly 43% of their matches against the All Blacks.

Timeline of key matches

Clarity: What’s known, what’s not

Quotes that capture the rivalry

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. It’s not just a win; it’s a statement that Argentine rugby belongs at the top table.”

Julian Montoya, Argentina captain, after the 2022 win in Christchurch — BBC Sport post-match

“You have to give credit to Argentina. They were more physical, more accurate, and they deserved the result. We were second-best today.”

Ian Foster, then New Zealand head coach, August 2022 — Sky Sports quotes

“The atmosphere at the Monumental was electric. This is a team that believes it can beat anyone now.”

Sky Sports commentator, August 2025 match report — Sky Sports match report

“Argentina have played 37 Tests against New Zealand. Their three wins all came in the last three years. That’s a structural change, not a fluke.”

World Rugby statistician, data from official records — World Rugby statistics

For New Zealand, the loss at home in 2022 and the defeat in Buenos Aires in 2025 have ended the aura of invincibility. For Argentina, the path is clear: consistency will determine whether this rivalry becomes truly competitive. For the Rugby Championship, the health of the competition depends on it.

For a comprehensive breakdown of the historic Argentina vs New Zealand rivalry, refer to Argentina vs New Zealand rugby history.

Frequently asked questions