The Springboks vs All Blacks rivalry is about to hit a fever pitch. South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has declared the four-Test home series against New Zealand in September 2026 will be something truly historic — for the Boks, for the franchise sides, and for the entire nation.
Springboks vs All Blacks Series Confirmed for First Time in 30 Years
SA Rugby confirmed on Thursday that the All Blacks will tour South Africa for a major series for the first time in 30 years, branding it Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. Furthermore, the Springboks will make the return trip to New Zealand in 2030 — their first tour of the country in the professional era. That is two seismic moments for world rugby, separated by just four years.
Kolisi, who has captained South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles, left absolutely no doubt about the weight of the occasion. Speaking on the SA Rugby website, he 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.”
Meanwhile, All Blacks captain Scott Barrett matched that energy. “This is a huge rivalry, founded on mutual respect, but for 80 minutes these are two teams that have everything on the line every single time they play,” he said. “It is shaping up to be a heck of a tour.”
Full Tour Schedule: Eight Matches Across South Africa
The tour promises to be a proper spectacle, spanning eight matches across South Africa’s iconic rugby heartlands. Significantly, the franchise sides get their crack at the Kiwis before the Test series even begins.
- Friday 7 August: DHL Stormers v New Zealand — DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- Tuesday 11 August: Hollywoodbets Sharks v New Zealand — Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
- Saturday 15 August: Vodacom Bulls v New Zealand — Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- Saturday 22 August: First Test — South Africa v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Tuesday 25 August: Lions v New Zealand — Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Saturday 29 August: Second Test — South Africa v New Zealand, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- Saturday 5 September: Third Test — South Africa v New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- Saturday 12 September: Fourth Test — South Africa v New Zealand, venue to be announced
If you enjoy watching powerhouse nations collide in marquee sporting events, you might also want to keep an eye on the RWC 2027 clash between the Wallabies and All Blacks at the 82,000-capacity Accor Stadium. Rugby’s biggest rivalries are well and truly back on the calendar.
