The Springboks kick off their 2026 season in exactly two months with a ‘warm-up’ game against the Barbarians before heading into three important July Test matches.
As these fixtures approach, there is increasing concern around an injury list that continues to grow.
In the latest bit of bad news, talented youngster Ethan Hooker dislocated his shoulder this past weekend after scoring a try against the Ospreys, and he could be out for two to three months.
Influential lock RG Snyman recently suffered a devastating ACL rupture while playing for Leinster. He is expected to be out for six to nine months, likely ruling him out for the remainder of the 2026 international season.
Lood de Jager is also currently in South Africa recovering from hip surgery, and he is expected to remain on the sidelines for at least another four months.
Meanwhile, there is still hope that Frans Malherbe could make his comeback to the Test arena this year, but it still remains unclear if he will fully recover from the back and neck issues that have threatened to force him into early retirement.
Other Springboks who are 50-50 for the start of the season
Pieter-Steph du Toit has begun intensive rehab work after undergoing a shoulder operation and there is cautious optimism that the second row star could be ready for the start of the new season.
At the Sharks alone, Aphelele Fassi is recovering from shoulder surgery, and is a major doubt for the season opener, while they have also lost the services of Eben Etzebeth, who suffered a hip injury in his comeback match against Connacht at the beginning of the month.
Fellow Springboks Bongi Mbonambi, Grant Williams and Jordan Hendrikse are also expected to miss the remainder of the campaign, and will be in a race against time to be available at the start of the season for the national team.
Fixtures for 2026:
International:
Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 4 July: Boks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July:Boks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: Boks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry:
Saturday 22 August: Boks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 29 August: Boks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday 5 September: Boks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
Saturday 12 September: Boks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)
Once-off Test:
Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Boks (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Nations Championship:
Saturday 7 November: Italy v Boks (Venue TBC)
Friday 13 November: France v Boks (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Boks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)
