Springboks vs All Blacks 2026: Full Eight-Match Tour Schedule, Venues and Key Details Revealed
International rugby is set to witness the revival of one of its most iconic traditions as the Springboks and the All Blacks prepare to renew their legendary rivalry in an unprecedented eight-match tour across August and September 2026.
For the first time in 30 years, South Africa and New Zealand will contest a full-scale touring series, with the event, branded Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR), replacing the traditional Rugby Championship on the international calendar. The historic collaboration between SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby is expected to captivate fans around the world while providing a major financial boost to both unions.
A Historic Return to Traditional Touring
The last time the All Blacks embarked on a multi-match tour of South Africa was in 1996, when New Zealand claimed a memorable 2-1 Test series victory.
Three decades later, rugby’s two most successful nations will once again go head-to-head in a format that many supporters believed had disappeared from the modern professional era.
A return tour to New Zealand has already been scheduled for 2030.
Eight Matches Across South Africa and the United States
The 2026 tour will see the All Blacks play four provincial fixtures before taking on the reigning world champion Springboks in a four-Test series.
The itinerary also includes a curtain-raiser between the Springbok Women and the Black Ferns, adding another international dimension to the blockbuster event.
2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule (South African kick-off times):
Friday, 7 August – DHL Stormers vs All Blacks (19:10), DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, 11 August – Hollywoodbets Sharks vs All Blacks (19:10), Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, 15 August – Vodacom Bulls vs All Blacks (19:10), Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 22 August – Springboks vs All Blacks, First Test (17:10), 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday, 25 August – Lions vs All Blacks (19:10), 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 29 August – Springboks vs All Blacks, Second Test (17:10), DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, 5 September
Springbok Women vs Black Ferns (13:30), FNB Stadium, Soweto
Springboks vs All Blacks, Third Test (17:10), FNB Stadium, Soweto
Saturday, 12 September – Springboks vs All Blacks, Fourth Test (23:00 SAST), M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, United States
Springboks and All Blacks Set for Historic Eight-Match Tour in 2026 (Image: SA Rugby)
Global Interest Surpasses Expectations
The return of traditional rugby touring has generated enormous interest from supporters across both hemispheres.
The decision to stage the fourth and final Test in Baltimore, United States, is also expected to expand the global profile of the fixture by taking one of the sport’s most celebrated contests to a new audience.
With four Tests, four provincial clashes and decades of history behind them, the Springboks and the All Blacks are set to write another memorable chapter in one of international sport’s most enduring rivalries.