New Zealand will host South Africa in 2026, but how many times will they play and in which stadiums? Find out all the details here.
The Greatest Rivalry will see the All Blacks tour South Africa through August and September.
The two rugby powerhouses will face each other in four Tests, three of which will be hosted South Africa and one will be played in Baltimore, USA.
Read more: All upcoming match in New Zealand
A tour means there won’t be Rugby Championship this year, and the competition will return in 2027. Argentina and Australia have other equipment including Nations Championship to complete their match list.
For schedules, lineups, key information and more, read below to find out everything you need to know before the tour begins.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Nations Championship
South Africa’s Siya Kolisi during the 2026 Nations Cup match between South Africa and Scotland (Getty Images)
Biggest rival 2026: Key information
– Dates: Friday 7 August – Saturday 12 September 2026
– Participating teams: New Zealand and South Africa
– TV rights: Sky NZ for those watching in New Zealand, while SuperSport has the rights in South Africa. Sky Sports will broadcast the games in the UK.
Biggest Rivalry Broadcasters 2026
- UK: Sky Sports
- Ireland: Virgin Media
- Australia: Stan Sport (subscription)
- New Zealand: Sky NZ
- South AfricaEngine: SuperSport
Matches for Greatest Rivalry 2026
Friday August 7, 2026
- Stormers v All Blacks
DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Start: 18.00 BST / 19.00 CET / 19.00 SAST / 3.00 AEST (Saturday) / 5.00 NZST (Saturday) / 13.00 EDT / 10.00 PDT
Tuesday 11.8.2026
- Sharks v All Blacks
Kings Park, Durban
Start: 18.00 BST / 19.00 CET / 19.00 SAST / 3.00 AEST (Wednesday) / 5.00 NZST (Wednesday) / 13.00 EDT / 10.00 PDT
Saturday 15.08.2026
- Bulls v All Blacks
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Start: 18.00 BST / 19.00 CET / 19.00 SAST / 3.00 AEST (Sunday) / 5.00 NZST (Sunday) / 13.00 EDT / 10.00 PDT
Saturday 22 August 2026
- South Africa v All Blacks
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Start: 16.00 BST / 17.00 CET / 17.00 SAST / 1.00 AEST (Sun) / 3.00 NZST (Sun) / 11.00 EDT / 8.00 PDT
Tuesday 25 August 2026
- Lions v All Blacks
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Start: 18.00 BST / 19.00 CET / 19.00 SAST / 3.00 AEST (Wednesday) / 5.00 NZST (Wednesday) / 13.00 EDT / 10.00 PDT
Saturday 29.08.2026
- South Africa v All Blacks
DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Start: 16.00 BST / 17.00 CET / 17.00 SAST / 1.00 AEST (Sun) / 3.00 NZST (Sun) / 11.00 EDT / 8.00 PDT
Saturday 05.09.2026
- South Africa v All Blacks
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Start: 16.00 BST / 17.00 CET / 17.00 SAST / 1.00 AEST (Sun) / 3.00 NZST (Sun) / 11.00 EDT / 8.00 PDT
Saturday 12.09.2026
- South Africa v All Blacks
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Start: 16.05 BST / 17.05 CET / 17.05 SAST / 1.05 AEST (Sunday) / 3.05 NZST (Sunday) / 11.05 EDT / 8.05 PDT
Read more: 100 years of the greatest rivalry
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – JULY 11: Will Jordan of the New Zealand All Blacks smiles as he runs for a try during the Nations Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Italy at Henry Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
History of the All Blacks vs the Springboks
There is an extensive history between the two nations which is why it is often called Greatest Rivalry.
The first match between the two was recorded in 1921 when the series was split in New Zealand. Fast forward seven years and the All Blacks are touring South Africa for the first time and once again the series is split.
Few tours go through with both wins, but the matches of the 1980s involve a lot of politics with apartheid South Africa. New Zealand won the 1981 home tour 2-1, but there were protests everywhere and the All Blacks canceled the 1985 tour of South Africa due to the political environment.
Read more: South Africa’s 12 greatest players of all time
South Africa’s first game back after missing several international tournaments is a test against New Zealand which the All Blacks win 27-24.
Both nations have won several matches over the years and the two meet for the first time in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. South Africa come out on top, beating their rivals by just one point.
Since that final, New Zealand have only beaten South Africa once, which was in the 2025 Rugby Championship. They aim to make new history on tour later this year.
Read more: British & Irish Lions Women’s Tour to NZ
All Blacks v Springboks: Recent results
- New Zealand 10-43 South Africa13 September 2025 Rugby Championship, Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
- New Zealand 24-17 South Africa 6 September 2025 Rugby Championship, Eden Park, Auckland
- South Africa 18-12 New Zealand 7 September 2024 Rugby Championship, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
- South Africa 31-27 New Zealand 31 August 2024 Rugby Championship, Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
- New Zealand 11-12 South Africa28 October 2023, Rugby World Cup Final, Stade de France, Paris
Read more: Answers to questions about the championship of nations
The All Blacks score against South Africa (Getty Images)
The biggest rival teams
New Zealand
Forward
Whores
Asafo Aumua
Codie Taylor
Samisoni Taukei’aho
Props
Ethan De Groot
George Bower
Xavier Numia
Tyrell Lomax
Fletcher Newell
Tosi stood up
Siale Lawaki
Locks
Tupou Va’i
Patrick Tuipulotu
Josh Lord
Darry himself
Fabian Holland
Loose Forwards
Peter Lakai
Simon Parker
Ethan Blackadder
Luke Jacobson
Anton Segner
Ardie Savea
Wallace Street
James the Great
The back
Scrum-halves
Cameron Roigard
Cortez Wars
Kyle Preston
Fly-halves
Ruben Love
Beauden Barrett
Damian McKenzie
Josh Jacomb
Centers
Jordie Barrett
Quinn Tupe
Billy Proctor
Anton Lienert Brown
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Outside Backs
Caleb Clarke
Fehi Finenganofo
Leroy Carter
Josh Moorby
Will Jordan
River Ioane
Emoni Narawa
South Africa
Forward
Props
Thomas du Toit
Wilco Low
Ox Guard
Zachary Porthen
Carl Sadie
Gerhard Steenekamp
Boan Waits.
Whores
Johan Grobbelaar
Malcolm Marx.
Locks
Lead the hunter
Eben Etzebeth
Ruan Nortje.
Loose forward
Paul de Villiers
Ben-Jason Dixon
Cameron Hanekom
He is Kolisi
Elrig Low
Jasper Wiese.
Utility forwards
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Franco Mostert
Vincent Chituka
Marco van Staden
Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Cobus Wiese.
The back
Scrum-halves
Herschel Jantjies
Cobus Reinach
Morne van den Berg
Grant Williams.
Fly-halves
Manie Libbok
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Hanging Soyo
Handre Pollard.
Centers
Damian de Allende
Andre Esterhuizen
Jesse Kriel.
Outer back
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Perfect Fassi
Ethan Hooker
Quan Horn
Cheslin Kolbe
Canan Moodie
Edwill van der Merwe
Damian Willemse.
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