Springboks vs All Blacks: Eight-match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour confirmed for 2026

It doesn’t matter what your preferred sport is, but I will go out on a limb and declare that there is nothing quite like an All Black tour. 

I remember in the 70s, when they landed on South African shores, back when South Africa was a very different place. The people in our communities celebrated, almost as if these players decked in black were liberators. In a sense, they were, but that will be explained later.

For now, the excitement is tangible. SA Rugby confirmed on Thursday that Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, an alternating quadrennial tour between South Africa and New Zealand, got the green light. The tour marks a defining new chapter for the rivalry between the sport’s most successful and storied nations.

Next year will mark 30 years since New Zealand’s last major tour of South Africa, when the All Blacks played an eight-match schedule culminating in a historic 2-1 Test series win. In the reciprocal 2030 tour, South Africa will conduct their first professional-era tour to New Zealand.

The maiden Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour will take the place of the Rugby Championship in 2026, making space for World Rugby's new Nations Championship in July and November. The Rugby Championship will return in 2027 with a full fixture list despite it being a World Cup year.

The tour schedule

South Africa will host New Zealand in August and September 2026. The All Blacks kick off the tour against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, 7 August, before facing the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, and Lions.

The four-Test series against the Springboks will be held at Ellis Park (Johannesburg), DHL Stadium (Cape Town), and FNB Stadium (Johannesburg), with a fourth Test at a neutral international venue. Details of the final Test will be confirmed in the coming months.

Players and coaches share their excitement

Double World Cup-winning Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said:

“I’ve heard so many stories from guys who’ve been on tours, and the way someone like Coach Rassie (Erasmus) speaks about it. It is something new for us as a group, and the rivalry between us and New Zealand has always been big and tight. We saw this year with the two games that we played against them. There is always something new. 

“For the All Blacks, they will get to know South Africa a bit more and interact with the public. They enjoy big support here, and it will be a big thing for most of them who haven’t been to South Africa during a Super Rugby tour. I can’t wait to experience it and hopefully get the opportunity to play with the group.

“Our Tests against the All Blacks have always been played in a great spirit. This is going to be huge. It’s an opportunity for us to also show the world once again who we are and what we are about – we certainly can’t wait for it,” Kolisi added.

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said the tour had already rekindled memories of notorious clashes, including the "Flour Bomb" Test at Eden Park in 1981 and the rebel Cavaliers tour of South Africa in 1986.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson confirmed he will take a squad numbering “40-something” on the tour, which runs from 7 August to 12 September 2026.

All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said they were anticipating a “heck of a tour”:

“This is a huge rivalry, and one that is founded on mutual respect, but for 80 minutes, these are two teams that every time they play, there’s everything on the line. The intensity is right up there, and it is shaping up to be a heck of a tour. 

“The format will be great, and there will be a whole lot of excited fans watching from home, and travelling with us as well. We are looking forward to it.”

A historic rivalry

South Africa is known for having a massive All Black following, and it’s still true that many Black and Coloured South Africans support the All Blacks due to historical reasons, particularly the team's inclusion of Māori and Pacific Island players during apartheid when the all-white Springboks did not. 

This support evolved to include an appreciation for the team's playing style, on-field conduct, and a historical sense of defiance against the former regime. Some families have supported the All Blacks for generations, and the passion remains strong today for various reasons.

Kolisi reflected on what the tour will mean for fans and players alike:

“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. I have no doubt the Springbok fans will be there waiting to welcome the All Blacks fans to South Africa. 

“Let’s get excited; let’s get behind it and, people of South Africa, it’s an opportunity for us to show the world once again who we are and what we are about – we certainly can’t wait for it.”

Administrators weigh in

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer highlighted the anticipation on the field and in the stands.

“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.”

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson added, “The rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks is fierce, but it’s also steeped in history and respect. Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is everything that is great about traditional rugby tours, whilst finding new ways to offer more for fans to see and engage with. All eight matches during this tour will be a showcase of our sport for fans, whether they are in New Zealand, on the ground in South Africa, or across the globe.”

Tickets, including match bundles, will go on general sale early next year. Fans can sign up for priority access at greatest-rivalry.com.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures 2026

Friday 7 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 5 September: Third Test – South Africa vs New Zealand at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

Saturday 12 September: Fourth Test – South Africa vs New Zealand (venue to be announced)