The Springboks are set to host three Six Nations teams in July next year as part of the groundbreaking Nations Championship – a landmark joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby to create the new biennial tournament.
For the mid-year Tests in 2026, the Springboks will tackle England (4 July), Scotland (11 July) and Wales (18 July) as these teams head to South Africa for the mid-year Tests.
It was also confirmed that the Springboks will face Italy (weekend of 6-8 November), France (weekend of 13-15 November) and Ireland (21 November) at the end of next year to complete fixtures against all Six Nations teams.
Venues and kick off times for the Springboks’ three home Tests next July are still to be confirmed by SA Rugby.
The announcement of the Nations Championship comes not long after it was confirmed that New Zealand will tour South Africa next year as part of the so-called ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’, an alternating quadrennial tour between South Africa and the All Blacks.
SPRINGBOKS TO HAVE FOUR TESTS AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
In the tour’s maiden year, South Africa will host New Zealand in August and September 2026. The All Blacks kick off the tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, 7 August and take on the Sharks, Bulls and Lions, to complement a four Test series against the Springboks.
Ellis Park (Johannesburg), DHL Stadium (Cape Town), and FNB Stadium (Johannesburg) are confirmed as South African Test venues, preceding a landmark fourth Test hosted at a neutral international venue. Details of the fourth Test will be confirmed in the coming months.
Tickets for the tour, including match bundles, will go on general sale early next year. Fans can sign up to be the first to hear and gain priority access to pre-sales by visiting greatest-rivalry.com
All fixtures so far for 2026:
- Saturday 4 July | England | Venue TBC
- Saturday 11 July | Scotland | Venue TBC
- Saturday 18 July | Wales | Venue TBC
- Saturday 22 August | First Test – New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Saturday 29 August | Second Test – South Africa v New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- Saturday 5 September | Third Test – South Africa v New Zealand at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- Saturday 12 September | Fourth Test – South Africa v New Zealand | Venue TBC
- Weekend of 6-8 November | Italy | Venue TBC
- Weekend of 13-15 November | France | Venue TBC
- Saturday 21 November | Ireland | Venue TBC
