New Zealand’s Historic Rugby Tour of South Africa Underway
- The New Zealand men's rugby union team has arrived in South Africa for a multi-week tour dubbed Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
- The All Blacks have played three out of four scheduled midweek games against provincial teams, including fixtures against the Stormers in Cape Town, the Sharks in Durban, and...
- According to The Telegraph, this six-week tour features four matches against Siya Kolisi's world champion Springboks.
All Blacks Touch Down for Historic South African Tour
The New Zealand men’s rugby union team has arrived in South Africa for a multi-week tour dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. It marks the first time the two teams have contested a full series in the country in 30 years, according to reporting by the BBC and The Telegraph.
The tour is already underway on South African soil. The All Blacks have played three out of four scheduled midweek games against provincial teams, including fixtures against the Stormers in Cape Town, the Sharks in Durban, and the Bulls in Pretoria, as confirmed by The Telegraph.
A Six-Week Test of Titans
According to The Telegraph, this six-week tour features four matches against Siya Kolisi’s world champion Springboks. These are interspersed with provincial fixtures and an additional match against the Lions in Johannesburg.
The tour will culminate in a fourth Test match played in Baltimore, United States, on September 12, 2026. This marks the first time the two long-time rivals will play a Test on American soil, as noted by the BBC.
Ending a Thirty-Year Wait
The last full series between the two sides in South Africa took place in 1996, when New Zealand triumphed 2-1, according to The Telegraph.
The current tour has necessitated the cancellation of the traditional Rugby Championship for this year. This allows the southern hemisphere’s premier teams to engage in a rare reciprocal multi-week tour arrangement that was agreed upon following talks between the respective unions beginning in 2023, as reported by the BBC and The Telegraph.
Broadcasting Rights and Wider Regional Impact
Sky Sports recently secured a broadcast agreement with the South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentina Rugby unions through to 2030. The deal covers all matches of the Greatest Rivalry tour alongside other regional fixtures, according to The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, Australia and Argentina have arranged separate bilateral fixtures while the Rugby Championship takes a temporary break.