Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry: Springboks vs All Blacks – Fixtures, venues and times for blockbuster tour
In 2026, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry sees world champions South Africa welcome eternal foes New Zealand for a historic rugby tour.
The century-old rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks that has defined the international game is thus set for another blockbuster chapter.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Michael Davey rounds up everything you need to know about the ground-breaking series, including fixtures, venues, and times.
What is Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry?
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is the name given to New Zealand’s 2026 rugby union tour of South Africa.
An ambitious eight-match programme sees the All Blacks meet the Springboks four times, with the remaining four fixtures coming against South African provincial teams – United Rugby Championship sides the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions.
The opening three Test matches take place in South Africa before the series shifts to Baltimore, Maryland, for a mouth-watering fourth showdown.
Beyond the action on the pitch, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry represents a long-awaited return to the traditional long-form tours of rugby’s past, with New Zealand undertaking a full tour of South Africa for the first time since 1996.
What is the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule?
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry begins in Cape Town on August 7 and concludes in Baltimore on September 12.
Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria will also host matches during the five-week tour.
Here are the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixtures, venues, and times:
7 August (19:00 SAST / 18:00 BST) – Stormers vs All Blacks, DHL Stadium in Cape Town
11 August (19:00 SAST / 18:00 BST) – Sharks vs All Blacks, Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban
15 August (19:00 SAST / 18:00 BST) – Bulls vs All Blacks, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria
22 August (17:10 SAST / 16:10 BST) – Springboks vs All Blacks, Ellis Park in Johannesburg (first Test)
25 August (19:00 SAST / 18:00 BST) – Lions vs All Blacks, Ellis Park in Johannesburg
29 August (17:10 SAST / 16:10 BST) – Springboks vs All Blacks, DHL Stadium in Cape Town (second Test)
5 September (17:10 SAST / 16:10 BST) – Springboks vs All Blacks, FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (third Test)
12 September (23:00 SAST / 22:00 BST / 17:00 EDT) – Springboks vs All Blacks, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore (fourth Test)
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Why are South Africa and New Zealand rugby rivals?
The first rugby meeting between South Africa and New Zealand came all the way back in 1921 as a clash in Dunedin was settled 13-5 in favour of the hosts.
Since then, the two nations have gone on to become the dominant forces in world rugby, turning their encounters into a storied measure of global supremacy.
Across 110 Test matches, New Zealand hold the overall edge with 63 victories to South Africa’s 43, while the other four tussles ended in draws.
The teams have moreover met in two Rugby World Cup finals, with the Springboks triumphing 15-12 in the 1995 Johannesburg showpiece and 12-11 in 2023’s Paris decider.
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