New Zealand will embark on their first traditional rugby tour of South Africa in three decades, with an eight-match schedule confirmed for 2026.
The All Blacks announced the tour on Thursday, marking their first full visit since the dawn of professional rugby in 1996. The trip will feature three test matches against the Springboks at Ellis Park (Johannesburg), Cape Town Stadium, and the 94,700-capacity FNB Stadium, followed by a fourth test at a neutral venue still to be confirmed.
The tour begins August 7 and includes fixtures against all four South African United Rugby Championship teams — the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions — before the test series.
It will be the first major All Blacks tour of the Republic since 1996, when Sean Fitzpatrick’s side won the test series 2–1, securing New Zealand’s first-ever series victory in South Africa.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said the occasion would be special for both teams.
“This is going to be something huge and something this generation will never forget,” Kolisi said. “These are the tours we’ve only heard of. To experience this for the first time is unbelievable for us as a group.”
The Springboks will make a reciprocal tour of New Zealand in 2030, their first in the professional era.
To accommodate the 2026 tour and the launch of World Rugby’s Nations Championship, The Rugby Championship — contested by New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Australia — will not be played that year.
SANZAAR confirmed the competition will return in 2027 in a condensed July–August format ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Australia. It will also be played in 2028 and 2029, before being paused again in 2030 when South Africa tours New Zealand.
2026 All Blacks Tour Schedule
Aug 7 – vs Stormers, Cape Town
Aug 11 – vs Sharks, Durban
Aug 15 – vs Bulls, Pretoria
Aug 22 – vs South Africa, Johannesburg (1st Test)
Aug 25 – vs Lions, Johannesburg
Aug 29 – vs South Africa, Cape Town (2nd Test)
Sept 5 – vs South Africa, Johannesburg (3rd Test)
Sept 12 – vs South Africa, Venue TBC (4th Test)
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