‘Great vibes’ as French and Kiwi fans fill Christchurch’s new stadium for All Blacks test

Saturday, 4 July 2026

All Black and French fans enjoy the action at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium

While thousands of fans are packing the stadium for the All Blacks' test against France, for one Christchurch family the game is a family affair.

French national Fanny Laine, who has lived in New Zealand for 11 years, will be cheering for Les Bleus, while her husband Michael Banks and 9-year-old son Leopold Laine-Banks will be supporting the All Blacks.

But the most important thing for them was to enjoy a good game and family time.

“My husband and my son will both be supporting the All Blacks, but I'm all for France. So it's quite a good conversation at home,” she laughed.

Couple Fanny Laine and Michael Banks say the most important thing is to have a good time together as a family.

“Of course, if we win, that would be amazing, but I just want us to give the All Blacks a hard time.”

For Leo, the game was the perfect closure of a great day as his team Old Boys Rugby Club won their match in the morning.

Allez les Bleus: French supporters showing their excitement and their flags.

“I love rugby and the All Blacks,” he said.

After four years without an All Blacks test in Christchurch, the wait is finally coming to an end, with fans packing the streets around One New Zealand Stadium this Saturday.

Archie, 10, and Ruby Copland, 7, prepare their All Blacks posters at Riverside Market ahead of the Test match between the All Blacks and France.

For the first time the stadium will be packed with 30,000 spectators, after an extra 5000 temporary seats were installed. Venues Ōtautahi confirmed it had paid for the rights to host Saturday’s test match at the new indoor stadium but would not disclose how much.

Excitement building

Black jerseys, flags and face paint showed the excitement before kick-off, with many fans visiting Riverside Market to meet some of the players before heading to the stadium to cheer on the team.

Among them were siblings Archie and Ruby Copland from Christchurch. They were thrilled, as this would be the first time they see the team in black live.

“It is so exciting. I never watched them so close,” Archie said. “I want them to score lots of tries.”

The duo was among the supporters who were led to the stadium by former All Blacks players Kieran Read, Corey Flynn, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis and Joe Moody.

All Black Kyle Preston chats with Brisbane-based Kiwis Janene and Brett Edwards while riding the All Blacks-branded Christchurch tram.

Read said it was great to have the All Blacks back in Christchurch.

“It has been such a long time since the city had had a test match and it is great to see the buzz around it.

All Black fan Alys Edwards met Codie Taylor at Chrischurch’s new stadium on Friday.

“It is a great vibe. Everybody seems to be having a good time.”

The atmosphere has been building all week, with supporters welcoming the team at community events, collecting autographs and enjoying a unique opportunity to meet the players.

On Saturday morning, Brisbane-based Kiwis Janene and Brett Edwards enjoyed the All Blacks-branded Christchurch tram and had the chance to wish some of the players good luck.

On Friday, 101-year-old All Blacks fan Alys Edwards had the opportunity to meet one of her heroes, Codie Taylor, during the captain's run.

The test against France is the first of four home fixtures across New Zealand and the first to be played at the new stadium.

Venues Ōtautahi expects about 30,000 fans to attend, with 32% travelling from outside Canterbury. The match is forecast to deliver an estimated $8 million boost to the regional economy.