New Zealand Rugby is close to signing off on a three-Test, eight-match tour of South Africa in 2026, according to South African media.
A story by the Daily Maverick in the Republic, which extensively quotes South Africa Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer, states officials from both nations met before last weekend’s All Blacks v Boks Test in Johannesburg to thrash out the details of the tour.
The proposed tour will be a popular addition to the rugby calendar and a return to the tradition of touring before the game went professional. Significantly, the tour would mark the 30th anniversary of New Zealand's last tour to South Africa in 1996.
The All Blacks, captained by Sean Fitzpatrick, won that series 2-1 – the first time New Zealand had won a series there.
“I just spent two days with the New Zealand leadership in what we are calling the ‘Greatest Rugby Rivalry’,” Oberholzer told the Daily Maverick.
“It’s a working title, although some people might say it is arrogant to say that,” Oberholzer added. “We have signed a memorandum of understanding and we are in the planning phases now. We have a draft schedule that must still be agreed.
“We met with the commercial brokers on setting the commercial property, the sponsorship matrix and we will go to market in due course. We believe we have to be in the broadcast market soon.
“It is a collaboration of two unions that have agreed to work together off the field. We believe we have to be closer – and we have never been close.
“Let’s fight on the field and let’s work off the field to the betterment of both of the unions. We have such a challenge in rugby with funding, so we have to create our own opportunities, and that is what we are busy with at the moment.”
1News has asked New Zealand Rugby for comment.
The Daily Maverick also reported that the Boks would tour New Zealand in 2030, with a similar eight-match schedule.
The All Blacks would play three Tests and five extra matches against the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks, the former Super Rugby teams who now play in the European United Rugby Championship competition. They would also play a South Africa A team.
New Zealand Rugby's unilateral break away from South Africa following the outbreak of Covid-19 was a bone of contention in the Republic but, if anything, playing in Europe has strengthened the game in South Africa, while the All Blacks have suffered from the isolation.
The 2026 tour against the reigning world champions would appear to be an ideal preparation for the World Cup in Australia the following year.
In 2030, the Boks would play the five New Zealand Super teams, along with three Tests.
There remains some commercial issues to overcome, plus the potential reactions of the two other Rugby Championship partners Australia and Argentina.
It may be that the Rugby Championship in 2026 and 2030 is played under a shortened format.
“The Rugby Championship will still happen, but it will probably be a single round, which we are pushing for,” Oberholzer said.
“If it is not going to happen, we as Saru did say to Argentina and Australia that we will play one-off Test matches against them. That is a discussion that we need finally in the second week of September.”
All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder, asked yesterday about a potential resumption of tours between the nations, said: “Generally, everyone misses the South African games and the tours.
“It is a bit gutting that it hasn’t continued. But when we do get the opportunity like this, which is rare, you’re testing yourself against the world champs, a team that plays physical rugby.
“[It’s] gutting that it’s not regular, but exciting that we can do it.”
The All Blacks play the second Test against the Boks in Cape Town on Sunday morning NZT.
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