1988 Wales rugby union tour of New Zealand

The Wales national rugby union team toured New Zealand in May and June 1988. They played eight matches, including two tests against New Zealand (the All Blacks).

The tour was not a success for Wales, losing both tests by heavy scores, and only winning two of the six matches against regional teams. The itinerary was a hard one and New Zealand coach Alex Wyllie said he would not have accepted a similar fixture list for his team.^[1] The team suffered badly from injuries and had to add six extra players during the course of the tour. Original tour captain Bleddyn Bowen broke his wrist in the second game and was replaced as skipper by Bob Norster, until he suffered a badly gashed knee, whereupon Jonathan Davies took over the captaincy.^[1][2]

Date	Venue	Home	Score	Away
18 May 1988	Rugby Park, Hamilton	Waikato	28–19	Welsh XV
21 May 1988	Athletic Park, Wellington	Wellington	38–22	Welsh XV
24 May 1988	Carisbrook, Dunedin	Otago	13–15	Welsh XV
28 May 1988	Lancaster Park, Christchurch	New Zealand	52–3	Wales
1 June 1988	McLean Park, Napier	Hawke's Bay	18–45	Welsh XV
4 June 1988	Rugby Park, New Plymouth	Taranaki	13–13	Welsh XV
7 June 1988	Okara Park, Whangārei	North Auckland	27–9	Welsh XV
11 June 1988	Eden Park, Auckland	New Zealand	54–9	Wales

28 May 1988

New Zealand	52–3	Wales
Try: Kirwan (4) Wright (2) Deans Gallagher Shelford G. Whetton Con: Fox (6)	Report	Pen: Ring

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 35,000

11 June 1988

New Zealand	54–9	Wales
Try: Kirwan (2) Wright (2) Deans Jones McDowall Taylor Con: Fox (8) Pen: Fox (2)	Report	Try: J. Davies Con: Ring Pen: Ring

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 45,000

• Manager: R. Morgan
• Coach: Tony Gray
• Assistant coach: Derek Quinnell
• Captain: Bleddyn Bowen, subsequently Bob Norster then Jonathan Davies

• History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and Wales