Most International Wins by a Nation

Lore & Background

The tour was confirmed in October 2025, and meant a restructuring of the Rugby Championship, which was axed for 2026 and 2030. Alongside the New Zealand tour will be a South Africa women vs. New Zealand women match at FNB Stadium on 5 September, ahead of the third test. It is the first time in the pair's history that the Freedom Cup has been contested over four tests.

In Their Own Story

The locker room hums with a quiet tension before the haka begins. A veteran captain runs his hand over the black fabric of his jersey, feeling the weight of every name stitched into the history books behind him. He knows that today's victory adds another line to a ledger that stretches back over a century. Outside, the roar of the crowd is muffled by the thick walls, but he can feel the vibration in the floorboards. This isn't just about three points on a table; it is about maintaining a standard that refuses to break. He steps toward the door, ready to add his own chapter to the most successful story in rugby.

Reader's Guide

The tour includes four test matches between South Africa and New Zealand, with two tests in Johannesburg, one in Cape Town, and one at a neutral venue in M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Mid-week matches are played against the four South African United Rugby Championship provincial teams (Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Stormers) and a fixture against South Africa A.

Did You Know?

• The tour was confirmed in October 2025 after formal agreements between SARU and NZR.
• The neutral venue for the fourth test is M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, the first time the two teams have met in the United States.
• Damian de Allende became the tenth Springbok player to earn 100 test caps during the first test.
• Pieter-Steph du Toit became the eleventh Springbok to earn 100 test caps during the second test.