In what will undoubtedly be a standout highlight of the 2026 Test season, the All Blacks will come to South Africa for a ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour that will include four matches against the Springboks.
The four-Test series will start at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (22 August) and then head to the Cape Town Stadium (29 August) and FNB Stadium in Nasrec (5 September) before concluding with the historic fourth and final Test in Baltimore, USA (12 September).
The Test at the M&T Bank Stadium concludes the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which includes games between New Zealand and South Africa’s four franchise teams.
However, when it comes to the four-Test series, SA Rugby’s GM of operations Yusuf Jackson said there were plans to ensure there would be an ultimate winner if it had to end level at 2-2.
“The question we asked both teams was, ‘Are we happy to shake hands in Baltimore and share the trophy?’ Both were aligned. ‘No, we want a winner’.
“We are exploring the various (tiebreak) options,” he said. “Being mindful of player well-being and match integrity, that could be extra-time or sudden death. All of that is being deliberated at this point.
“There are no plans for another match because of the schedule,” Jackson confirmed. “The fourth Test will deliver a series result, if we go there.”
Springboks and All Blacks battle will be one to remember
Next year marks 30 years since New Zealand’s last major tour of South Africa, where the visitors embarked on an eight-match schedule, culminating in a historic 2-1 Test series win. In the reciprocal 2030 iteration, South Africa will conduct their first professional era tour to New Zealand.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said: “This fierce competition between two very proud nations has delivered more than a century of drama on rugby fields across the world, including two Rugby World Cup finals.
“We saw last year how much it means for Springbok supporters to welcome the All Blacks to South Africa, and we can’t wait to see them tour our country next year, as we rekindle our friendship with our greatest adversaries.
“Today’s announcement promises more drama, physicality, strategy, and unpredictability in a rivalry regarded as one of the most intense in world sport.
“This tour will also mean so much for our four franchises and their players – facing one of the best teams in the history of the game – as well as their fans, who will have the opportunity to see their team in action against international opposition for the first time since 2009. We know next year’s tour will be nothing short of epic.”
All 2026 fixtures (kick off times in SA time)
- Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians
- Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
- Kick-off: 15:00
Nations Championship
- Saturday 4 July: Boks v England
- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Kick-off: 17:40
- Saturday 11 July: Boks v Scotland
- Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- Kick-off: 17:40
- Saturday 18 July: Boks v Wales
- Venue: Kings Park, Durban
- Kick-off: 17:40
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (v All Blacks)
- Saturday 22 August: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 29 August: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 5 September: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 12 September: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
- Kick-off: 18:00 (Expected)
Once-off Test
- Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Boks
- Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
- Kick-off: 11:30
Nations Championship (End of Year Tour)
- Saturday 7 November: Italy v Boks
- Venue: Venue TBC
- Kick-off: 16:00
- Friday 13 November: France v Boks
- Venue: Stade de France, Paris
- Kick-off: 22:00
- Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Boks
- Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
- Kick-off: 19:30
- 27–29 November: Finals Weekend
- Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Kick-off: TBC
