Cape Town confirmed as HSBC SVNS host for the 2026/27 Rugby Sevens Series

Cape Town has once again secured its place on the global rugby calendar after World Rugby confirmed the schedule for the 2026/27 HSBC SVNS Series. The Mother City will host one of the flagship tournaments of the international sevens season, giving travellers another excellent reason to visit South Africa during the Southern Hemisphere summer.

The tournament has become one of Cape Town's biggest annual sporting events, attracting thousands of local and international supporters who combine world-class rugby with a holiday in one of Africa's most spectacular destinations.

When is the Cape Town HSBC SVNS tournament?

According to the newly announced schedule, the Cape Town HSBC SVNS tournament will take place on 05 and 06 December 2026.

The South African leg follows the opening tournament in Dubai and continues the Series before teams travel to destinations including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Los Angeles and Europe.

For visitors, early December is one of the best times to experience Cape Town. Summer has arrived, the days are long and warm, and many outdoor attractions are at their best.

Why travellers should consider visiting during HSBC SVNS

Unlike many sporting events where visitors spend most of their time inside a stadium, the Cape Town leg of the HSBC SVNS is easy to combine with a classic Cape Town holiday.

Many visitors extend their stay to explore attractions such as:

• The iconic Table Mountain
• The V&A Waterfront
• Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula
• The Cape Winelands
• Robben Island
• Boulders Beach and its famous African penguins
• The scenic Atlantic Seaboard and nearby beaches

The tournament atmosphere also spills into restaurants, bars and public spaces around the city, creating a lively weekend for both rugby supporters and casual visitors.

Book accommodation early

Because the HSBC SVNS coincides with the start of South Africa's peak holiday season, accommodation in Cape Town can fill up quickly.

Travellers planning to attend should consider:

• Booking accommodation several months in advance.
• Comparing prices in different neighbourhoods rather than focusing only on the city centre.
• Renting a car if planning to explore beyond Cape Town after the tournament.
• Extending the trip to include the Garden Route, the Cape Winelands or a safari elsewhere in South Africa.

Early bookings often provide the best choice of hotels and self-catering apartments, particularly for groups travelling together.

More than just rugby

Even if you're not a die-hard rugby fan, the HSBC SVNS offers an entertaining day out. Sevens rugby is fast-paced, matches are short, and the event is well known for its festival atmosphere, live entertainment and colourful costumes in the stands.

This makes it an attractive addition to a Cape Town itinerary for families, groups of friends and international visitors looking to experience South African sporting culture.

A boost for Cape Town tourism

Hosting another round of the HSBC SVNS reinforces Cape Town's reputation as one of the world's leading destinations for international sporting events. Alongside events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Two Oceans Marathon, the Cape Town Marathon, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry matches next month, and major cricket fixtures, the tournament helps attract visitors during the early summer season and supports hotels, restaurants, tour operators and local businesses.

For travellers, it offers the opportunity to combine world-class sport with unforgettable scenery, excellent food and wine, and some of South Africa's best tourism experiences.

Planning a trip? If you're considering visiting Cape Town in December 2026, it's worth securing flights and accommodation early. With summer weather, spectacular scenery and one of the most exciting stops on the HSBC SVNS calendar, the city is expected to be a popular destination once again.

For travellers, it offers the opportunity to combine world-class sport with unforgettable scenery, excellent food and wine, and some of South Africa's best tourism experiences.

 

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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.

 

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Rugby: HSBC SVNS returns to Cape Town in December 2025!

The Mother City will once again take centre stage on the global rugby sevens calendar! World Rugby has confirmed that Cape Town will host the HSBC SVNS 2026 Series from 06 to 07 December 2025, bringing high-energy international sevens action back to the spectacular Cape Town Stadium.

As one of only five returning destinations on the 2026 circuit - alongside Dubai, Singapore, Vancouver and Hong Kong - Cape Town remains a fan favourite for its breathtaking setting, electric atmosphere, and festival-style celebrations.

The HSBC SVNS Series represents the new era of rugby sevens: two action-packed days featuring both men’s and women’s teams, full gender parity, and an enhanced entertainment experience combining sport, music, and culture. Cape Town's leg follows the opening round in Dubai (29–30 November 2025), marking the second stop of the 2026 season.

Fans can expect thrilling matches from the world’s top rugby nations - including South Africa’s Blitzboks and Imbokodo - as well as live performances, themed fan zones, and a vibrant crowd celebrating rugby’s most exciting format.

With the city’s famous hospitality, stunning Table Mountain backdrop, and world-class facilities, the HSBC SVNS Cape Town 2025/26 promises to be one of the highlights of South Africa’s sporting calendar.

Travellers planning to attend are advised to book accommodation early, especially in Green Point, the V&A Waterfront, and Cape Town’s city centre, as hotels and guesthouses fill up fast during the event weekend.

 

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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.

 

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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.

Rugby: HSBC SVNS will be returning to Cape Town in December 2024!

World Rugby has confirmed the first five destinations and dates of the highly anticipated HSBC SVNS, an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments featuring 12 men’s and women’s national sevens teams. These are Dubai, Cape Town, Perth, Vancouver and Hong Kong. Further host destinations will be confirmed shortly.
The HSBC SVNS 2024/2025 Series will kick-off at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, which hosts the first round on 30 November - 01 December 2024. As in previous editions, the 24 teams then move on to the DHL Stadium in Cape Town the following weekend for the second round on 07 - 08 December 2024.
The HSBC SVNS will return to Perth for the third round on 24 - 26 January 2025. Vancouver then welcomes the event for the fourth round on 21 - 23 February 2025. The fifth round, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, is confirmed to take place on 28 - 30 March 2025 in Hong Kong.
Details on the remaining HSBC SVNS 2024/2025 events, including the Grand Final, will be confirmed in due course.

The women’s participating teams are: New Zealand, Australia, France, USA, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Great Britain, Japan, Brazil, Spain and China.

The men’s teams roster includes: Argentina, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Fiji, South Africa, Great Britain, USA, Spain, Uruguay and Kenya.

South Africa: Western Cape to host the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024!

The Western Cape in South Africa is set to host the World Rugby U20 Championship in June and July this year. According to World Rugby and South African Rugby (SA Rugby), the tournament will be played over five match days in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, with the participating teams grouped into three pools of four. The first round will take place 29 June 2024 and the final will be played at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 19 July 2024.
Three-time consecutive winners France are in Pool A with New Zealand, Wales and Spain, who will make their debut after winning the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2023. Ireland, Australia, Georgia and Italy make up Pool B, while South Africa's Junior Springboks are set to face England, Argentina and Fiji in Pool C.

Photo by Edgar Pimenta on Unsplash

World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 (29 June 2024 to 19 July 2024):

Venues:
Danie Craven Stadium (Stellenbosch), Athlone Stadium, DHL Stadium (both in Cape Town)

Pools (with 2023 ranking in brackets):
Pool A: France (1), Wales (6), New Zealand (7), Spain (12)
Pool B: Ireland (2), Australia (5), Georgia (8), Italy (11)
Pool C: South Africa (3), England (4), Argentina (9), Fiji (10)

Pool matches:
Match day 1: Saturday, 29 June 2024
Match day 2: Thursday, 4 July 2024
Match day 3: Tuesday, 9 July 2024

Playoff matches:
Match day 4: Sunday,14 July 2024
Match day 5: Friday, 19 July 2024 (final and ranking matches)

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: Cape Town set to host the HSBC SVNS, the new-look World Sevens Series! [update]

update (14 October 2023): HSBC SVNS Cape Town tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster!

World Rugby has announced that Cape Town in South Africa will be one of the host cities for the HSBC SVNS 2023/24, the revamped and rebranded global celebration of rugby sevens taking place across eight iconic cities. The HSBC SVNS festivals will feature 12 men's and women's teams chasing the ultimate prize, while also providing fans with a unique festival of sport, music, food and immersive experiences. Cape Town is set to reignite its love affair with the series on 09 and 10 December 2023 when the Cape Town Sevens makes its return to the DHL Stadium in Green Point.

"Cape Town's inclusion in the remodelled Sevens Series is a massive feather in our cap. Cape Town Sevens has been one of the flagship events hosted in our city for nearly a decade, has proven a popular event with record attendance every single year and provides the best live experience for spectators. The City of Cape Town has been supporting the event since it moved from Gqeberha to Cape Town and we are looking forward to continue our partnership with the organisers to ensure an exciting experience for spectators," said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith.

Launching in December 2023, HSBC SVNS festivals will provide the annual platform for the world’s best sevens athletes to shine with 12 men’s and women’s teams sharing a global stage at the same location.

HBSC SVNS – Festival dates 2023/24:

• Dubai, UAE: 02 - 03 December 2023
• Cape Town, South Africa: 09 - 10 December 2023
• Perth, Australia: 26 - 28 January 2024
• Vancouver, Canada: 23 - 25 February 2024
• Los Angeles, USA: 02 - 03 March 2024
• Hong Kong SAR, China: 05 - 07 April 2024
• Singapore, Singapore: 03 - 05 May 2024
• Madrid, Spain: 31 May - 02 June 2024 

Rugby: South Africa to host next two World Rugby U20 Championships!

World Rugby and South African Rugby (SA Rugby) have confirmed that South Africa will host the next two editions of the World Rugby U20 Championship, in 2023 and 2024, while Kenya is set to host the U20 Trophy in 2023.
The World Rugby U20 Championship 2023 will take place from 24 Jun 2023 to 14 July 2023 and will be played over five match days in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington, with the world’s best 12 U20 teams staying in Cape Town. The participating teams are: France, Wales, New Zealand, Japan (Pool A), Australia, England, Ireland, Fiji (Pool B), South Africa, Argentina, Italy and Georgia (Pool C).

Pool matches:

• Match day 1: Saturday 24 June 2023
• Match day 2: Thursday 29 June 2023
• Match day 3: Tuesday 4 July 2023

Knock-out matches:

• Match day 4: Sunday 9 July 2023
• Match day 5 (final): Friday 14 July 2023

Photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash

The U20 Trophy, which will be contested by eight teams, will be hosted at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 July 2023 to 30 July 2023. The participating teams are: Scotland (relegated from the U20 Championship in 2019), Kenya (hosts), Hong Kong (Asia), Samoa (Oceania), Spain (Europe), Uruguay (South America) and two teams still to qualify through regional competition from North America and Africa.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Cape Town activates the Fan Walk as well as a free MyCiti shuttle service for ticket holders!

Cape Town is hosting Africa’s first ever Rugby World Cup Sevens from 09 September to 11 September 2022.  The eighth edition of the event, which will be contested by 24 men's and 16 women's teams, will take place at the DHL Stadium in Green Point. The City of Cape Town has announced that in an effort to minimise traffic congestion in the Green Point precinct, a free MyCiTi shuttle service for ticket holders to travel to the DHL Stadium will be introduced. Buses will depart from the Civic Centre and Thibault Square MyCiTi stations from 08:00 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They will leave every 15 minutes or when full. Alternatively, rugby supporters can walk to the DHL Stadium via the Fan Walk which will be activated before the stadium gates open at 08:00. The Fan Walk extends from the City Centre along Waterkant Street, over the pedestrian bridge at Buitengracht and along Somerset Road, through the underpass at Green Point Circle to the stadium gates. 

Paid parking is also available at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (limited), Ryk Tulbagh Square, Picbel Parkade (Strand Street), Plein Park (Corporation Street) and the V&A Waterfront (limited parking). Additionally, a dedicated E-hailing service hub will be set up on Green Point Main Road between York and Wigtown roads.

South Africa: The World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Cape Town! [update]

update (06 December 2022): Tickets to the HSBC Cape Town Sevens 2022 are available since 05 October 2022. They range from R150 to R825, depending on the day and location of the seats. Entry to the venue will not be honoured for tickets purchased from unauthorised ticket re-sellers such as Instaticket, GameDaySeats and Viagogo.

The World Rugby Sevens Series, an annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby featuring national sevens teams, is set to return to Cape Town for the first time since 2019. According to the schedule of the Series, which was released on 31 May 2022, the ever-popular Cape Town Sevens will return to the DHL Stadium in the Mother City on the weekend of 09 - 11 December 2022. Ticket information for the event will be released in due course. We'll keep you posted!
The men’s World Rugby Sevens Series will include a record-equalling 11 rounds, uniquely featuring two events in Hong Kong, which is set to host the first round on 04 - 06 November 2022. The women’s Series involves a record seven rounds and will kick off in Dubai on 02 - 03 December 2022 in the first of four consecutive men’s and women’s combined events.
The competition will be intense from start to finish with the prize of Olympic Games Paris 2024  qualification on offer for the top four women’s and men’s teams in the 2023 Series standings.

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series schedule for the 2023 season:

• 04 - 06 November 2022: Hong Kong (men only)
• 02 - 03 December 2022: Dubai (combined)
• 09 - 11 December 2022: Cape Town (combined)
• 21 - 22 January 2023: Hamilton (combined)
• 27 - 29 January 2023: Sydney (combined)
• 25 - 26 February 2023: Los Angeles (men only)
• 03 - 05 March 2023: Vancouver (combined)
• 31 March - 02 April 2023: Hong Kong (combined)
• 08 - 09 April 2023: Singapore (men only)
• 12 - 14 May 2023: Toulouse (combined)
• 22 - 21 May 2023: London (men only)

South Africa: Dates confirmed for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town! [update]

update (14 February 2022): World Rugby announced today that ticket sales for this year’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town will go live at 07:00 GMT (09:00 SAST) on 28 February 2022 at www.rwcsevens.com. Tickets will cost between R150 ($9.90 / €8.65 / £7.30) and R1,750 ($115 / €100 / £85) with most tickets (72%) priced between R250 ($16.50 / €14.50 / £12.15) for category D on Day One to R1,350 ($89 / €78 / £66) for Category B on Day Three. Discounted family and scholar tickets and packages as well as a ‘Party Stand’ package will also be available.

World Rugby, the world governing body for the sport of rugby union, and SA Rugby, the governing body for rugby union in South Africa, have confirmed that the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town will take place next year from 09 - 11 September 2022. The eighth edition, which will be contested by 24 men's and 16 women's teams, is the first to be hosted in Africa. The three-day event will be held at the 57,654 capacity Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, Cape Town. Details of the ticket sales launch will be announced later this year. We'll keep you posted!

Rugby: SA Rugby and British & Irish Lions confirm revised tour schedule! [update]

update (21 July 2021): SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions confirmed on 20 July 2021 that agreement had been reached to conclude the Castle Lager Lions Series in Cape Town. The Series was scheduled to return to Johannesburg following the first Test in Cape Town on Saturday. All three test matches will now take place at the Cape Town Stadium (24 July 2021, 31 July 2021 and 07 August 2021). According to SA Rugby, the decision to remain in Cape Town was made following extensive consultation with medical experts on the risks associated with the delta variant of Covid-19.

update (01 July 2021): The kick-off in the Castle Lager Lions Series match between the Cell C Sharks and the British & Irish Lions at Emirates Arline Park in Johannesburg on 07 July 2021 has been brought forward by an hour to 19:00 (18:00 BST).

The South African Rugby Union (also known as SA Rugby) and the British & Irish Lions have confirmed a revised Castle Lager Lions Series fixture list and venues. In order to minimise the risks of disruption that could be caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, all eight matches of the tour in South Africa will be played in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. The schedule accommodates stable team bases and training venues and significantly reduces travel.
The British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa 2021 ("Castle Lager Lions Series") will now kick off in Gauteng with three matches against provincial opposition in Johannesburg and Pretoria before moving to Cape Town for two more warm-up matches before the first test at Cape Town Stadium on 24 July 2021. The Castle Lager Lions Series then returns to Johannesburg for the second and third tests at the FNB Stadium. There is one team change in the revised schedule with the Emirates Lions replacing the South Africa Invitational team. The adjustment was made to reduce the risks associated with drawing a squad from around the country.  

Photo by Alberto Di Maria on Unsplash

SA Rugby is organising all games in the schedule to comply with the regulations on attendance as will apply at the time of play. All ticket holders for the original schedule will receive a full refund. SA Rugby also confirmed that South African resident ticket holders would have first right to purchase tickets for the revised schedule if restrictions on attendance at sports events were lifted.

The full Castle Lager Lions Series 2021 is:

• 03 July 2021: Emirates Lions v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
• 07 July 2021: Cell C Sharks v The British & Irish Lions (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg) kick off 20:00 (SAT) / 19:00 (BST) 19:00 (SAT) / 18:00 (BST)
• 10 July 2021: Vodacom Bulls v The British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
• 14 July 2021: South Africa ‘A’ v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) kick off 20:00 (SAT) / 19:00 (BST)
• 17 July 2021: DHL Stormers v The British & Irish Lions (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
• 24 July 2021: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (1st test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
• 31 July 2021: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (2nd test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)
• 07 August 2021: Springboks v The British & Irish Lions (3rd test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) kick off 18:00 (SAT) / 17:00 (BST)

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

British & Irish Lions announce itinerary for 2021 Tour of South Africa! [update]

update (19 February 2021): There are rumours that the British and Irish Lions series against South Africa will be staged in Australia!

update (10 February 2021): According to World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte, a decision on whether the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa will go ahead will be made at the end of March 2021.

update (06 January 2021): According to news reports, the British and Irish Lions board is currently discussing three contingency plans for the 2021 British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa: bringing the series to the UK and Ireland (Edinburgh, London, Cardiff, and Dublin), playing the series behind closed doors in South Africa, or postponing the tour until 2022. We'll keep you posted!

update (16 July 2020): SA Rugby and the British & Irish Lions confirmed on 15 July 2020 the 2021 tour to South Africa will go ahead as scheduled. The eight-game tour kicks off on 03 July 2021 when the Lions play Vodacom Super Rugby’s DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

The British & Irish Lions, a rugby union team selected from players eligible to play for the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland, has announced the itinerary for the 2021 Tour of South Africa (03 July - 07 August 2021). The eight-game schedule includes three test matches against the Springboks in Johannesburg and Cape Town as well as three matches against Super Rugby teams (Vodacom Bulls, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers) and two fixtures against an invitational side and South Africa "A" in Port Elizabeth, Durban, Nelspruit and Pretoria.

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

South Africa: Cape Town to host the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022!

The World Rugby Council, which manages and controls the affairs of World Rugby, has awarded  the hosting rights for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to South Africa at its Interim Meeting in Tokyo on 29 October 2019. The eighth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens will take place in Cape Town in September 2022. The three-day event will be held at the 55 000-capacity Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. Competition dates will be confirmed in due course. The tournament will feature the world's best 24 men's and 16 women's rugby sevens teams. Congratulations SA Rugby, South Africa and Cape Town!

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!

Kumuka's Tri Nations Sale: save up to 30% (ends 28 Aug 11)

Whilst the Kiwi's may be regular winners, it's been quite a while since Australia have had the chance of winning the Tri Nations trophy.
To celebrate this long awaited showdown between the top 2 teams in the world, Kumuka are offering all Aussies and Kiwis up to 30% OFF Kumuka tours - so in the end we all win!!
That's 30% OFF for this weekend only and may the best team win!!

How to claim your Tri Nations discount:

• Use the promotional code BIGSAVE11 when booking
• Book on or before 28st August 2011
• Take advantage of the strong Aussie and Kiwi dollars and when you select your currency - pay for your tour in $USD, £GBP or €Euro and SAVE!

Terms and conditions apply
1. The following regions and products are excluded from the sale North America and Specialist tours. 2. The sale ends 28th Aug 2011 3. The sale applies for tours departing from 01 November 2011 to December 2012. 4. To qualify for a Discount full payment must be made at the time of booking. 5. Offers apply to New Bookings only. 6. All bookings must be made online using Kumuka Agent interface. 7. Offers apply to bookings made in GBP, USD and EURO only. 8. Offer apply to prices displayed on the Kumuka website or in 2011-2012 brochure only. 9. Some tours are excluded. Check the individual tour page on www.kumuka.com or contact Kumuka for further details.

Overland Tours in Eastern & Southern Africa  >>

Port Elizabeth named as new host of South Africa's HSBC Sevens World Series event

Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape province will host the South African leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series for the next five years, after coming out as clear winners in a competitive tendering process.
The announcement was made by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) in Cape Town on th 13 April 2011 after the recommendation of a tender committee was accepted by the SARU Executive Council.



The inaugural Port Elizabeth event will be hosted at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in early December this year. The International Rugby Board will confirm the dates of the Port Elizabeth event as well as of the rest of the HSBC Sevens World Series for 2011/12 in due course.
The Outeniqua Park in George played host to the popular event for the first time in 2002 and went on to stage the tournament for nine consecutive years
The HSBC Sevens World Series is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments. The tournaments, run by the IRB, feature national sevens teams.
Teams compete for the Sevens World Series title by accumulating points based on their finishing position in each tournament. Each season's circuit currently consists of eight tournaments in seven countries, and visits five of the six populated continents. South Africa, Australia; New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, The United Arab Emirates, England and Scotland each host one tournament.

accommodation in Port Elizabeth >>

Accommodation near Port Elizabeth International Airport >>