Quentin Hull and Laura McGoldrick anchor the Australia v New Zealand telecast on ABC Radio and Sky Sport 1 NZ

The star of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup, the Australia v New Zealand rugby union competition, takes place on 17 October 2026. If you are planning to tune in, the UK broadcast window opens at 06:00 UK time, giving you plenty of time to line up your channels before the first kick-off.

The Australian side is fronted by ABC Radio, which draws on the country's most accomplished sports broadcasters. Headlining the commentary is Quentin Hull, an Australian sports journalist at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He has been a fixture across the country's prestigious tournaments for years, having joined Grandstand in 1999 after starting his career in newspapers. His co-commentator is Nick Phipps, a former New Zealand representative who now brings his own tournament pedigree to the mic. The Australian reporter's role is handled by Phil Prior, a sports journalist and content producer who broadcasts across the rugby union, AFL and Formula 1 circuits.

On the New Zealand side, the telecast runs across Sky Sport 1 NZ / HD. The presenter is Laura McGoldrick, one of the country's best sports broadcasters, who has covered everything from Rugby League and international cricket to the Olympics and Super Rugby. She anchors a busy commentary roster that includes the main commentator Jeff McTainsh, whose late call-up to a tournament last year put him in the spotlight as one of New Zealand's leading voices. He is joined by co-commentators Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson, while James Parsons and Aaron Cruden round out the punditry.

The Australian broadcast on ABC Radio

ABC Radio is the primary Australian channel for the Bledisloe Cup, and it pairs Quentin Hull with Nick Phipps as the headline commentary team. Quentin Hull's longevity as one of ABC's most accomplished sports broadcasters makes him a natural anchor for the telecast, while Nick Phipps brings his own tournament history to the mix.

The reporter's role falls to Phil Prior, who is well placed to keep the audience informed on the day's developments. Between them, the ABC Radio team is well equipped to carry the Australian half of the competition from the first kick-off through to the final verdict.

The New Zealand broadcast on Sky Sport 1 NZ / HD

Sky Sport 1 NZ / HD carries the New Zealand side of the telecast, with Laura McGoldrick presenting and calling the commentary. Her reputation as one of New Zealand's top sports broadcasters, built across a range of international tournaments, makes her an ideal front woman for the day.

The commentary itself is led by Jeff McTainsh, who has been drawing praise as one of the country's leading voices in New Zealand rugby. He is supported by Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson, with James Parsons and Aaron Cruden offering their own reads on the outcome. It is a full roster, and one that should keep the audience engaged throughout.

The Australian side on Stan Sport

For those who want to follow the competition from a purely Australian angle, Stan Sport (AU) also fields a complete broadcast team. Michael Atkinson presents, supported by co-presenter Matt Burke, with Sean Maloney as main commentator. He is joined by co-commentators Michael Hooper and Morgan Turinui, while Tim Horan, Allana Ferguson and Justin Harrison provide the punditry.

Where to watch

The main channels for the 2026 Bledisloe Cup are ABC Radio and Sky Sport 1 NZ / HD, with Stan Sport (AU) offering a fully Australian alternative. The UK window opens at 06:00 on 17 October 2026, so there is time to set your notifications and catch the whole thing from start to finish.

For background on one of the headline commentators, Quentin Hull's profile is worth a look.

Article generated: 16 October 2026, 18:02 GMT