International rugby · 2026 season · All kick-offs in South African time

Springboks & All Blacks
The 2026 Test calendar

Each side plays six cross-hemisphere Tests in the new Nations Championship — a July window at home and a November window in Europe. In between, the two meet head-on in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: a four-Test series replacing this year's Rugby Championship.

Springboks All Blacks Times shown in SAST (GMT+2)

Nations Championship · July window

Rounds 1–3 · Southern conference hosts

Round 1 · Saturday 4 July
09:10SAST
New Zealand v France
One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Won
34–32FT
17:40SAST
South Africa v England
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Won
45–21FT
Round 2 · Saturday 11 July
07:10SAST
New Zealand v Italy
Hnry Stadium (Sky Stadium), Wellington
–
17:40SAST
South Africa v Scotland
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
–
Round 3 · Saturday 18 July
09:10SAST
New Zealand v Ireland
Eden Park, Auckland
–
17:40SAST
South Africa v Wales
Kings Park, Durban
–

August – September · Replaces the 2026 Rugby Championship

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

The All Blacks tour South Africa for the first time in 30 years — a Lions-style tour of four Tests and four midweek provincial games, finishing on neutral ground in the USA. Kick-off times are still to be confirmed.

First Test Sat 22 August Ellis Park, Johannesburg · KO TBC
Second Test Sat 29 August Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town · KO TBC
Third Test Sat 5 September FNB Stadium, Johannesburg · KO TBC
Fourth Test Sat 12 September M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore · KO TBC Neutral · USA

All Blacks tour matches

Stormers v New ZealandFri 7 Aug · Cape Town
Sharks v New ZealandTue 11 Aug · Durban
Bulls v New ZealandSat 15 Aug · Pretoria
Lions v New ZealandTue 25 Aug · Johannesburg

The traditional four-team Rugby Championship (with Australia and Argentina) returns in 2027.

Nations Championship · November window

Rounds 4–6 · Northern conference hosts

Round 4 · Saturday 7 November
13:40SAST
Italy v South Africa
Allianz Stadium, Turin*
–
16:10SAST
Scotland v New Zealand
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
–
Round 5 · Friday 13 November
22:10SAST
France v South Africa
Stade de France, Paris
–
Round 5 · Saturday 14 November
16:10SAST
Wales v New Zealand
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
–
Round 6 · Saturday 21 November
16:10SAST
England v New Zealand
Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London
–
18:40SAST
Ireland v South Africa
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
–
Finals weekend
27 – 29 November · Twickenham, London

After six rounds, the six Southern and six Northern sides are ranked within their conferences, then paired off in cross-conference finals — Southern No. 1 v Northern No. 1 for the inaugural title, No. 2 v No. 2, and so on. Because the Boks and All Blacks are both Southern-conference sides, they never meet in this competition — their business is settled in the Rivalry series above.