South Africa: Springboks to host England, Scotland & Wales in July 2026 as Nations Championship kicks off!

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.

 

Subscribe for updates:

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa.  

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry: South Africa vs New Zealand 2026 fixtures confirmed!

last update - 23 January 2026

South Africa will return to the US for only the third time this millennium when the 2026 edition of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks concludes with an historic fourth and final Test in Baltimore, Maryland.
The match will be played at the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens on 12 September 2026.  

Rugby fans, brace yourselves for a historic showdown! The highly anticipated alternating quadrennial tour between South Africa and New Zealand, branded as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, has been officially announced. The inaugural 2026 edition will see the Springboks host the All Blacks from August to September, delivering an unforgettable series of matches across South Africa.

Full Tour Fixtures & Venues
The All Blacks kick off the tour against top South African franchises before engaging in four epic Test clashes with the Springboks. Here’s the complete 2026 schedule:

Friday, 07 August – DHL Stormers vs New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, 11 August – Hollywoodbets Sharks vs New Zealand at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, 15 August – Vodacom Bulls vs New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 22 August – First Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday, 25 August – Lions vs New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 29 August – Second Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, 05 September – Third Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday, 12 September – Fourth Test: South Africa vs New Zealand at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

This format blends high-octane franchise games with intense international Tests, reviving the classic touring tradition that rugby fans have long cherished.

Historic Context & Significance
The 2026 tour marks 30 years since New Zealand's last major South African tour, which featured an eight-match schedule and concluded with a historic 2-1 Test series victory for the All Blacks. The reciprocal 2030 tour will see South Africa visiting New Zealand for the first professional-era tour, further cementing the rivalry.

Back-to-back Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said: “This is going to be something huge and something this generation will never forget. These are the tours we’ve only heard of. To experience this for the first time, where it’s like a Lions tour, is unbelievable for us as a group.”

Tickets & Priority Access
Tickets, including match bundles, will go on general sale early next year. Fans can sign up for priority access and pre-sale notifications at greatest-rivalry.com to secure their seats for this once-in-a-generation rugby spectacle.

 

Subscribe for updates:

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa. 

South Africa: Springboks' 2025 home test schedule confirmed!

The South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) has announced the Springboks' home test schedule for 2025. South African rugby fans can look forward to seeing the Boks in action against four different national teams between July and September 2025.
As part of the Castle Lager Incoming Series 2025, the Springboks will take on Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on 05 July 2025, followed by a second Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 12 July 2025. They will then face Georgia at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on 19 July 2025 - only the third time the two nations have met in a test match.

The Boks will kick off their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title defence with back-to-back clashes against Australia at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on 16 August and at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 23 August 2025. They will then travel to New Zealand for two Tests against the All Blacks, set for 6 September 2025 in Auckland and 13 September 2025 in Wellington.

Returning to South Africa, the Springboks will wrap up their home season with a test against Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on 27 September 2025. Their final match of the competition will take place a week later at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London, where they will face the Pumas once more.

Details regarding ticket sales will be announced in due course.

South Africa: Springboks 2024 home test schedule has been revealed!

The South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) has confirmed the Springboks 2024 home test schedule. Rugby fans in South Africa will see the Boks playing against four different national teams between July and September 2024. In July 2024 Ireland and Portugal will travel to South Africa to meet the Springboks in Pretoria and Durban (Ireland). The venue for the test against Portugal is set to be confirmed in due course. At the end August 2024, the All Blacks will be back in South Africa for tests in Johannesburg and a week later in Cape Town. The home test season concludes in Nelspruit at the end of September 2023 with a match between the Springboks and the Pumas from Argentina.
The Springboks’ away test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August 2024, and an away match against Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in September2024 , as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.

The Springboks’ home Test schedule for 2024 is:

• Saturday, 6 July: SA vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
• Saturday, 13 July: SA vs. Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
• Saturday, 20 July: SA vs. Portugal (venue TBC)
• Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
• Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
• Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)

Rugby: British & Irish Lions plan for tour to go ahead in South Africa!

The British & Irish Lions, a rugby union team selected from players eligible to play for the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland, and the South African Rugby Union (also known as SA Rugby), the governing body for rugby union in South Africa, have announced that they are aligned on delivering the Castle Lager Lions Series in South Africa in the scheduled playing window (03 July - 07 August 2021). According to Jason Leonard, Chairman of The British & Irish Lions Board, the Bord acknowledges that there is a significant amount of work still to be undertaken to deliver a robust Covid-19 countermeasure plan to ensure a successful, safe and uninterrupted Tour and that SA Rugby will have the Board's full support to help implement this plan. As a matter of fact, it is currently unclear whether spectators will be permitted into stadia during the Lions Tour in South Africa. According to Mark Alexander, President of the South African Rugby Union, the original Tour schedule could be changed if spectators will not be allowed in the stadia. We'll keep you posted! 

Photo by Captureson Photography on Unsplash 

The British & Irish Lions have toured South Africa on 13 previous occasions, with the first Tour taking place in 1891. In that time, the Lions have won four Test series, lost eight and drew one. Their overall record against the Springboks is played 46, won 17, lost 23 and drawn six.

British & Irish Lions 2021 Tour of South Africa (03 July - 07 August 2021):

• Saturday 03 July 2021: British & Irish Lions v DHL Stormers – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
• Wednesday 07 July 2021: British & Irish Lions v South Africa Invitational – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
• Saturday 10 July 2021: British & Irish Lions v Cell C Sharks – Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
• Wednesday 14 July 2021: British & Irish Lions v South Africa "A" – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
• Saturday 17 July 2021: British & Irish Lions v Vodacom Bulls – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Saturday 24 July 2021 (First Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
• Saturday 31 July 2021 (Second Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
• Saturday 7 August 2021 (Third Test): Springboks v British & Irish Lions – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

Gross Barmen Resort (Namibia): Increased entrance fee for day visitors!

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has announced that the entrance fee for day visitors to the Gross Barmen Resort has been increased to N$200.00/person. The price adjustment is for day visitors intending to make use of the braai facilities and mini pool at the campsites. Day visitors who want to make use of the thermal pool and other facilities are required to pay an additional N$100.00/person.
According to Francois Snyders, NWR Gross Barmen Resort Manager, "the increase is necessary to ensure the upkeep of the facilities that are accessible to day visitors. At the same time, this will also preserve the facilities for future generations to come".



Gross Barmen Resort, located around 100 km from Namibia's capital city of Windhoek and 24 km east of Okahandja, has been built around a natural mineral hot spring. The resort includes facilities for spa & wellness, fitness, recreation, and leisure. The main attraction of the resort is the health and hydro/ medical spa centre, featuring thermal springs and providing a full range of treatments, massages, and health activities for relaxation.

Namibia: NWR introduces springboks to the Gross Barmen Resort!

Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) has introduced springboks to its Gross Barmen Resort on 19 August 2017. The introduction of the small antilope species is one step towards further introducing other wildlife at the establishment.

Gross Barmen Resort, located around 100 km from Namibia's capital city of Windhoek and 24 km east of Okahandja, has been built around a natural mineral hot spring. The resort includes facilities for spa & wellness, fitness, recreation, and leisure. The main attraction of the resort is the health and hydro/ medical spa centre, featuring thermal springs and providing a full range of treatments, massages, and health activities for relaxation.

Rugby World Cup final 2007 @ Tekweni Backpackers, Durban

Not much to say - some (qualitywise) not too good, but good enough video footage of the party at Tekweni Backpackers in Durban as the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup 2007 final against England. What a blast, what a party! If you are in South Africa during the Rugby World Cup 2011 (09 Sept - 23 Oct 2011), make sure that you watch at least one match with those Durbanites at Tekweni!

Rugby World Cup 1995, South Africa, the Springboks, the All Blacks & the food poisoning

With "Invictus" coming to cinemas end of 2009, the discussion whether the All Blacks got food poisend or not is back in the media. Well, maybe this video made by sportasylum.com might answer some questions.



And for those who can hardly remember the 1995 World Cup:

first "Invictus" trailer out now >>
South Africa info guide >>
tours & accommodation in Southern Africa >>