South Africa is set for a blockbuster winter of rugby in July 2026, with the Springboks hosting England, Scotland and Wales in three massive Test matches on home soil. These fixtures form the heart of the brand-new Nations Championship, a groundbreaking global tournament launched this week by SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. After July’s blockbuster fixtures, South Africa will roll straight into Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in August 2026, extending the country’s status as one of the world’s top rugby destinations that year.
South Africa’s July 2026 home tests (Nations Championship)
The heart of the 2026 international season:
- 04 July 2026: South Africa vs England
- 11 July 2026: South Africa vs Scotland
- 18 July 2026: South Africa vs Wales
These Tests will deliver consecutive northern-hemisphere showdowns on South African soil, drawing huge crowds and creating a festival atmosphere in and around the country’s major rugby cities. Venues and kick-off times for the Boks’ three home Tests next July will be confirmed by SA Rugby in due course.
A New Era for World Rugby
The July Tests form part of the inaugural Nations Championship, a groundbreaking biennial tournament launched by SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby. The competition brings together the 12 top teams in the global game:
- Southern Hemisphere: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina plus invitational teams Japan and Fiji
- Northern Hemisphere: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales
Matches will be played across the established July and November Test windows, giving fans meaningful, structured fixtures every two years.
November 2026 European tour: Italy, France & Ireland
After the July home Tests and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry in August 2026, the Springboks will head north for three away matches:
- 06–08 November 2026: Italy vs South Africa
- 13–15 November 2026: France vs South Africa
- 21 November 2026: Ireland vs South Africa
These fixtures complete a full season of Springbok matchups against all Six Nations opponents - a major attraction for fans travelling to Europe.
Finals weekend in London: A new global rugby festival
The Nations Championship will conclude with a unique Finals Weekend, scheduled for 27–29 November 2026 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London. Across three days of double-headers:
- The top teams from each hemisphere will compete to become the first Nations Championship champions.
- Every match will contribute points toward determining the dominant hemisphere of the season.
- Fans can expect a Rugby World Cup–style atmosphere outside a World Cup year.
Looking ahead
- There will be no tournament in 2027 due to the Rugby World Cup.
- In 2028, the fixtures reverse: France, Ireland and Italy tour South Africa, while the Boks head to the UK to face England, Scotland and Wales.
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