South Africa vs England

Lore & Background

Since the earliest years of international rugby union, it was customary for the three former British dominions of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa to undertake reciprocal touring arrangements. Between 1903 and 1995, Australia and New Zealand alone conducted more than forty tours of one another, while South Africa hosted Australia and New Zealand on five and six occasions respectively between 1928 and New Zealand's controversial 1976 tour. During the mid to late twentieth century, this system of extended, bilateral tours was periodically expanded to include the rugby nations of Europe. Throughout his period, international rugby was defined by these lengthy tours and persisted until the introduction of the quadrennial Rugby World Cup (RWC) in 1987. However, the sporting boycotts imposed on South Africa in response to apartheid resulted in the Springboks playing very few international fixtures throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Following their readmission to international rugby in the early 1990s, the country hosted and participated in its first Rugby World Cup in 1995 (the third tournament in the competition's history). That same year marked the formal professionalisation of rugby union. In 1995, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa established a joint union, SANZAR, and established the annual Tri Nations Series (now known as the Rugby Championship), effectively ending the traditional touring practice. The Daily Maverick reported in February 2024 that 'advanced talks' were taking place between the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) about a possible return of traditional tours between New Zealand and South Africa, with initial talks having been brokered in August 2022 in Johannesburg. It was reported by The Australian in 2026 that 'the vision of the tour started in late 2021, but it was only when NZR and SARU officials met during a two-week tour in 2022 that it gathered pace.' SABC Sport later reported in May 2024 that traditional tours between New Zealand and South Africa were set to resume in 2026 on a four-year reciprocal cycle, with the SARU and NZR believed to have reached an in-principle agreement. It was also reported that the two unions had been in discussions since 2023 regarding the revival of the historic tours, which was confirmed by the SARU president Mark Alexander and NZR chief executive Mark Robinson. According

In Their Own Story

The air at Ellis Park was thick with heat and history. On one side, the English pack, white jerseys gleaming under the African sun, dug their boots into the red earth, eyes locked on the Springbok forwards. There were no helmets to cushion the blow, only leather straps and sheer will. As the scrum engaged, a low rumble vibrated through the grass, a collision of two distinct rugby philosophies. The referee's whistle cut the tension, but the roar of the crowd drowned it out instantly. In this arena, there was no room for error; one slip in the tackle or lineout would mean the difference between glory and heartbreak.

Reader's Guide

The full tour schedule was revealed on 16 October 2025. All of the matches hosted in South Africa were confirmed on 16 October 2025 after both the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced the return of the traditional tour. In the announcement the venues were confirmed to be Ellis Park Stadium, FNB Stadium, Cape Town Stadium, Kings Park Stadium, and Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Two of the four tests are to be played in Johannesburg, with one to be played in Cape Town. A fourth test venue was at first not announced, and was reportedly on neutral territory. Speculation by media sources has pointed to Twickenham Stadium in London, and Croke Park in Dublin. In January 2026, the neutral venue was confirmed to be in the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is the first time the two teams have met each other in the United States. Squads: On 27 July, New Zealand named a 44-player squad ahead of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa. On 22 July 2026, South Africa named a 43-player squad ahead of their test match against Argentina and the four tests against New Zealand.

Did You Know?

• The tour includes 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 the Freedom Cup has been contested over four tests.
• The neutral venue for the fourth test is M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, the first meeting between the two teams 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.