The fourth and final Test of this year’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Springboks and the All Blacks will be played in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the first time the iconic fixture heads to the United States.
The match is set for Saturday, September 12 at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. It will bring one of sport’s most celebrated rivalries to American soil, closing out a tour that has already generated global interest.
This year’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour features more than just the traditional Test matches. New Zealand are scheduled to face South Africa’s four franchise sides, while the Springboks and All Blacks will meet in three Tests in South Africa. Fans in Johannesburg will also enjoy a double header featuring the Black Ferns and the Springboks Women before the tour concludes in the US.
Both teams are no strangers to playing in America. South Africa previously faced the USA in Houston in 2001 and played Wales in Washington DC in 2018. New Zealand have also made several appearances in the States, including matches in Chicago against Ireland and the USA, as well as fixtures in San Diego and Washington.
The decision to take the fourth Test to Baltimore reflects a broader effort by SA Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby to grow the game in the United States. With the USA set to host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women’s tournament in 2033, there is a clear push to build momentum and expand the sport’s footprint in key markets.
Bringing the Springboks and All Blacks to Baltimore, one of the applicant cities for Rugby World Cup 2031, is part of that strategy. The aim is to introduce new audiences to top tier international rugby, strengthen fan engagement and inspire the next generation of American rugby supporters.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said taking the Springboks to new audiences remains a key objective.
“Taking the Springboks to new audiences and territories is a key objective for South African rugby and the opportunity to do so in a ground breaking match against our fiercest rivals was a major determinant in where the fourth Test would be played,” Oberholzer said.
“With fans getting the opportunity to see the Boks in action against the All Blacks in three home Tests, the chance to share the excitement in the US is an exciting one, compounded by the fact that both men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup will be heading to the USA in a few years’ time.”
The stage is now set for a historic night in Baltimore, where one of rugby’s greatest rivalries will write a new chapter, this time in front of an American crowd.
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