The details of the All Blacks' "Greatest Rivalry" tour next year have this morning been confirmed, with New Zealand set to play three Tests against the Springboks in South Africa and another at a venue yet to be confirmed but likely to be Twickenham.
In addition, the All Blacks will play four matches against South Africa's professional club sides who compete in the European United Rugby Championship.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has already confirmed he will take a squad numbering "40-something" on the arduous tour, which runs from August 7-September 12 and will take the place of the Rugby Championship in 2026.
The Springboks will tour New Zealand in 2030 in a reciprocal arrangement - their first tour here since the game went professional in 1996.
Next year the All Blacks are scheduled to play the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls before the first Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. They will then play the Lions in a midweek game before the next three Tests in Cape Town, Johannesburg (FNB Stadium) and at a neutral venue yet to be announced.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus said looking ahead to next year's tour had already rekindled memories of notorious clashes between the nations, including the "Flour Bomb" Test at Eden Park in 1981 and the rebel Cavaliers tour of the Republic in 1986.
Next year's tour marks 30 years since New Zealand’s last major tour of South Africa, where the visitors embarked on an eight-match schedule, culminating in a 2-1 Test series win, the first time the All Blacks had won a tour there.
All Blacks coach Robertson, in looking ahead to the trip, said the images of the exhausted but elated captain Sean Fitzpatrick celebrating the Test victory in Pretoria which sealed it were still fresh.
South Africa Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said: "This fierce competition between two very proud nations has delivered more than a century of drama on rugby fields across the world, including two Rugby World Cup finals.
"We saw last year how much it means for Springbok supporters to welcome the All Blacks to South Africa and we can't wait to see them tour our country next year, as we rekindle our friendship with our greatest adversaries.
"Today's announcement promises more drama, physicality, strategy, and unpredictability in a rivalry regarded as one of the most intense in world sport.
“This tour will also mean so much for our four franchises and their players – facing one of the best teams in the history of the game – as well as their fans, who will have the opportunity to see their team in action against international opposition for the first time since 2009. We know next year's tour will be nothing short of epic.”
South Africa are the Rugby Championship title holders and world champions after beating the All Blacks in the World Cup final in Paris in 2023. They are one-Test all against the All Blacks this year but will have a psychological advantage after humbling New Zealand in Wellington last month.
Mark Robinson, New Zealand Rugby CEO, said: “The rivalry between the All Blacks and the Springboks is fierce, but it’s also steeped in history and respect. Rugby's 'Greatest Rivalry' is everything that is great about traditional rugby tours.”
Back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi said: “This is going to be something huge and something this generation will never forget. These are the tours we’ve only heard of. To experience this for the first time, where it’s like a Lions tour, is unbelievable for us as a group.
“I have no doubt the Springbok fans will be there waiting to welcome the All Blacks fans to South Africa. Let’s get excited; let’s get behind it and, people of South Africa, it’s an opportunity for us to show the world once again who we are and what we are about – we certainly can’t wait for it.”
All Blacks Captain Scott Barrett said: “This is a huge rivalry, and one that is founded off mutual respect, but for 80 minutes these are two teams that every time they play there’s everything on the line. The intensity is right up there, and it is shaping up to be a heck of a tour. The format will be great, and there will be a whole lot of excited fans watching from home and travelling with us as well. We are looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the tour will go on general sale early next year.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures 2026
Friday 7 August: Stormers v New Zealand, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday 11 August: Sharks v New Zealand, Kings Park, Durban
Saturday 15 August: Bulls v New Zealand, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday 22 August: South Africa v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg (first Test)
Tuesday 25 August: Lions v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday 29 August: South Africa v New Zealand, DHL Stadium, Cape Town (second Test)
Saturday 5 September: South Africa v New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (third Test)
Saturday 12 September: South Africa v New Zealand. Venue to be announced (fourth Test)
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