All Blacks v Italy ticket prices discounted as NZ Rugby tries to woo families in tough Wellington market
Thursday, 2 July 2026
NZ Rugby says “less than 4000 tickets” are still for sale.
All Blacks will spend most of next week in Auckland rather than Wellington.
Prices were reduced by 20% following Super Rugby final.
Discounts of up to 20% have been offered on tickets to the All Blacks’ match against Italy in Wellington, with families in particular targeted to help fill the Cake Tin.
The Post reported last month that thousands of tickets remained unsold as Wellington proved to be a tough market, particularly with the less-fancied Italians as opposition.
Since then, NZ Rugby took 20% off all ticket prices for a 48-hour period last week and has reduced the prices for children as part of a “family bundle” for $100 - category B tickets for one adult and one child.
NZ Rugby said on Wednesday fewer than 4000 tickets were still available and it was remained hopeful of a sellout crowd at the 34,500-capacity Hnry Stadium.
The test against Italy kicks off at 5.10pm and is attracting far more families than the All Blacks’ tests in Christchurch and Auckland in July, according to ticket sales data.
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The decision to reduce prices for children is therefore a strategic decision to fill the stands with younger fans - and their parents.
Tickets in all categories for the Wellington test remained up for grabs on Wednesday, with prices ranging from $53 to $183, exclusive of the one-off $6.95 service fee on all transactions.
The cheapest children’s tickets still available are $30, but few are remaining in that category.
The All Blacks v France test at One NZ Stadium on Saturday sold out weeks ago, while the All Blacks v Ireland test at Eden Park on July 18 is all but sold out, with only a handful of tickets still available.
The likelihood of a Hurricanes-dominated All Blacks team, captained by Wellingtonian Ardie Savea, could help shift the remaining tickets.
However, sales might not be helped by the decision to base the All Blacks in Auckland next week, rather than the capital.
It is understood that the All Blacks will only arrive in Wellington a few days before the Italy test on Saturday week.
That decision had been locked in by the previous All Blacks coaching team, but it will prevent the squad from getting out and about to promote the Wellington test in the early part of next week.
All Blacks senior assistant coach Neil Barnes has implored New Zealanders not to underestimate Italy, who beat both England and Scotland in this year’s Six Nations after defeating Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies last November.
“People underestimate Italy because they see them as the Italy of old, not what they’ve evolved into,” Barnes told The Post.
“Kieran Crowley was involved with putting that team together four or five years ago and they’re still together, so they have great cohesion, a great game plan, and great skill sets.
“People need to look at their results in the last Six Nations to see how good they really are; they knocked over Scotland and England.
“They are incredibly tough but skilful men. They have my utmost respect.”
Barnes worked with Italy at the last Rugby World Cup, while All Blacks coach Dave Rennie tasted defeat against Italy as Wallabies coach in 2022.
Wellington’s economic woes have been well documented, but there is also an infrastructure element to the All Blacks’ ticket sales.
Supporters in Canterbury have been flocking to the new One NZ Stadium, with the Crusaders, Warriors and Matatū teams all attracting significant crowds.
An extra 5000 temporary seats have also been added for the clash against France on Saturday.