Wales Ends 73-Year Drought Against New Zealand with 35-28 Thriller
Wales secured a historic 35-28 victory over New Zealand at Principality Stadium, stopping a 73-year losing streak against the All Blacks.
⚽Soccer in the USPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Wales defeated New Zealand 35-28 to end a winless run dating back to 1953.
- The high-scoring match featured tries from nine different players across both sides.
- Late defensive heroics secured the result in front of 55,152 fans in Cardiff.
Wales achieved a milestone in rugby history on Saturday by defeating New Zealand 35-28 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in a Nations Championship matchup. The dramatic win halted a staggering 73-year drought against the All Blacks, a historic jinx that stretched back to 1953.
A crowd of 55,152 witnessed a high-octane encounter featuring nine tries. Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James, and Louis Rees-Zammit crossed the whitewash for the hosts. Despite New Zealand firing back through Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Fehi Fineanganofo, and Peter Lakai, the Welsh defensive unit held firm under immense second-half pressure. Desperate try-saving interventions from James Botham, Taine Plumtree, and Gareth Thomas prevented the visitors from capitalizing during waves of late attacks.
The emotional triumph helps wash away recent struggles for Wales, including a lengthy losing run and a difficult Six Nations campaign. Following the result, Wales sits fourth in the Northern Hemisphere standings. What to watch next: Wales will look to build on this momentum when they face Australia next Saturday.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7781569/2026/11/14/rugby-wales-new-zealand-win/ ↗
Read next
🧠AI AnalysisMercedes Moné Defends AEW Women's World Championship Against Marina Shafir at Full Gear
Mercedes Moné successfully retained her AEW Women's World Championship against Marina Shafir at the Full Gear pay-per-view event on Saturday.
🧠AI AnalysisCommanders Edge Giants 24-21 to Tighten NFC East Race
Washington secured a narrow victory over New York behind a late Jayden Daniels touchdown, moving closer to the top of the division standings.
🎓College SportsBoise State Clinches Pac-12 Title Game Hosting Rights Despite Defensive Woes
No. 24 Boise State secured home-field advantage for the Pac-12 championship after a 46-41 victory over Oregon State, though defensive struggles persist.
🎓College SportsOregon Dominates Michigan Behind Raiola’s Four Touchdowns
Dylan Raiola threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns as Oregon defeated Michigan 31-7 at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks extended their offensive resurgence under play-caller J…
🧠AI AnalysisLincoln Riley Defends USC Tenure Amid Rising Hot Seat Pressure After Loss to Indiana
USC head coach Lincoln Riley reaffirmed his commitment to the program following a 27-13 defeat against Indiana that dropped the Trojans to 7-3 and ended their College Foo…
⚾MLBYankees Prioritize Bullpen Retention With Free Agency Looming for Key Relievers
General manager Brian Cashman has identified the bullpen as the top offseason priority for the New York Yankees, with multiple key relievers entering free agency.