The tour was first reported by The Times in December 2022,[2] shortly after England coach Eddie Jones was sacked and replaced by Steve Borthwick by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).[3][4] Although Southern Hemisphere tours have typically been played on a three-test basis, as in the 2014 tour; the 2016 and 2022 tours of Australia; and the 2018 tour of South Africa, all Northern Hemisphere touring teams (with Scotland being an exception) returned to two-tests.
The tour will be the England's first tour since touring Australia in 2022, and their first tour of New Zealand since 2014. It is expected to be Steve Borthwick's first tour as coach of England.[2] Borthwick was previously the England captain when they toured New Zealand in 2008, losing the series 2–0.[2] It will also be the first set of fixtures for New Zealand's new coach, Scott Robertson.[1][5]