France vs New Zealand Rugby Union Head-to-Head & Stats

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 19 Nov 2024

Simon Lewis 19 Nov 2024

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First match played during New Zealand’s 1905/06 tour to Europe; New Zealand lead the head-to-head battle by a large margin.
France’s first win came in 1954, and their best winning streak was three wins in a row from 1994 to 1995.
New Zealand have dominated France since their first meeting, with the All Blacks enjoying winning streaks of six matches (1981-86), seven matches (2003-2007), eight matches (1961-68) and a staggering 14 matches (2009-2018).

Damian Penaud breaks against New Zealand, RWC 2023 (credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

France made their debut in Test rugby playing against New Zealand, and the contest has always been exciting to witness French flair and exhuberance battling against the might of New Zealand's all-round rugby. The All Blacks have dominated these contests, winning more than three Tests to every one French win.

The two countries have contested 17 Tests series, with New Zealand winning 10, France one, and the two nations sharing one drawn series. New Zealand won the last two series both by 3-0 margins, both played at home, in 2013 and 2018.

France vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record
Latest Results
Rugby World Cup Record

France vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record

Aside from being historic in terms of being France’s first Test combatant, the two sides have enjoyed a glamorous history, with New Zealand generally playing high-quality 15-man rugby, highlighted by strength in the pack and an attacking backline that is relentless as well as ruthless when offered any half-chances. For their part, France have brought bunches of flair and drama to their encounters, but have just never had the complete game required to challenge New Zealand on a consistent basis.

New Zealand won 23 of the first 29 Tests the two nations played against one another, with France’s best period coming between 1994 and 2000, when they won five of their eight Tests against New Zealand. Shortly after New Zealand embarked on an epic run of wins over France, winning 21 of 23 Tests from 2003 through to 2018, when France pulled off one of their most memorable wins over New Zealand, beating them 40-25 at the Stade de France. Two years later they shocked New Zealand and the world rugby by beating the seemingly invincible All Blacks 27-13 in the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2023.

Info	Played	Won by France	Won by New Zealand	Drawn
Overall	64	15	48	1
In France	29	9	19	1
In New Zealand	31	4	27	0
Neutral venue	4	2	2	0

Latest Results

Date	Result	Score	Stadium	Country
24 September 2011	New Zealand	37–17	Eden Park	New Zealand
23 October 2011	New Zealand	8–7	Eden Park	New Zealand
8 June 2013	New Zealand	23–13	Eden Park	New Zealand
15 June 2013	New Zealand	30–0	Rugby League Park	New Zealand
22 June 2013	New Zealand	24–9	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	New Zealand
9 November 2013	New Zealand	19–26	Stade de France	France
17 October 2015	New Zealand	62–13	Millennium Stadium	Wales
26 November 2016	New Zealand	19–24	Stade de France	France
11 November 2017	New Zealand	18–38	Stade de France	France
9 June 2018	New Zealand	52–11	Eden Park	New Zealand
16 June 2018	New Zealand	26–13	Westpac Stadium	New Zealand
23 June 2018	New Zealand	49–14	Forsyth Barr Stadium	New Zealand
20 November 2021	France	40–25	Stade de France	France
8 September 2023	France	27–13	Stade de France	France
16 November 2024	France	30-29	Stade de France	France

Rugby World Cup Record

New Zealand and France have met on eight occasions at the Rugby World Cup, a record for any pair of nations. New Zealand have won five of those matches, with France claiming three wins.

The first meeting at the World Cup took place at Eden Park in Auckland, 1987, in the first-ever Rugby World Cup final. New Zealand dominated the historic match, leading 29-3 going into the final moments of the match, when France score a consolation try that was converted with the last kick of the match.

France claimed revenge on New Zealand in 1999, knocking the powerful All Blacks out in the semi-final with a 43-31 scoreline to reach their third final… only to be crushed 35-12 by a dominant Australian side that was at the height of its powers.

They met again in a World Cup final in 2011, again at Eden Park, with New Zealand scraping home by a single point with an 8-7 scoreline.

In the most recent World Cup in 2023, the two sides met in the tournament opener, with France causing one of the upsets of the tournament by pulling off a phenomenal 27-13 win over the tournament favourites.