The All Blacks will play Samoa at Eden Park on 16 June as part of their preparations for the Lions series.

The match will be preceded by a clash between Tonga and Wales.

'It's great that we're going to play Samoa,' said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. 'It's going to be a wonderful evening where you've got Pasifika rugby on show and Welsh rugby and New Zealand rugby.

'It allows us to fill a need for ourselves as we need a game to prepare for the Lions and also give something back to Pasifika rugby.'

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images