The Springboks and All Blacks will face off on four occasions in 2026 with one match set to be played on a neutral ground, according to reports.
SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby confirmed last year that plans for the return of traditional tours had been agreed upon, with the All Blacks embarking on a tour of South Africa in 2026, which would be played in the same Test window as the shortened Rugby Championship.
Dubbed ‘The Greatest Rivalry’, the two organisations believe that a tour format that “could rival or even surpass the British & Irish Lions tours” with the All Blacks will play eight games over two months, including matches against the franchises, the South Africa A team, and three tests against the Springboks.
Fifth Springboks v All Blacks match in 2026?
However, a fresh report suggests that the two nations will face off an additional time next year, on foreign soil.
This would be that the Springboks and All Blacks will play in more than three Test matches against one another for the first time in 30 years.
According to Rapport, the additional Test match between the two nations is likely to be played in London or the USA.
The Springboks have recently played two Tests at Twickenham, not against England, the first of which being against the All Blacks in the Qatar Airways Cup match that took place before the Rugby World Cup. South Africa emerged 35-7 victors on the day, their biggest-ever victory over their rivals.
Springboks and All Blacks agree terms to revive blockbuster traditional tours
Recent matches in the USA
Last year, Rassie Erasmus’ men returned to the home of English Rugby to tackle Wales ahead of their two home Tests against Ireland in July. Again, the Boks emerged victorious, clinching an emphatic 41-13 win.
However, the Springboks have not played many Test matches in America with their most recent trip to the USA being back in 2018. In Erasmus’ first-ever game in charge of the Boks, his side tackled Wales in Washington DC, falling to a 20-22 defeat at the hands of Warren Gatland’s charges.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks have been more frequent visitors to the USA playing as recently as last year when Scott Robertson’s side faced Fiji in San Diego, claiming a 47-5 victory. They also faced the USA in Washington back in 2021, thrashing their hosts 104-14.
New Zealand are already scheduled to play one Test match in America next year as they clash with Ireland at Soldier Field in Chicago in what is being marketed as ‘The Rematch’ from 2016.
This will be the second time these teams have met in Chicago, following Ireland’s epic first-ever victory over the All Blacks, having previously failed to knock over New Zealand in the 111-year history of the fixture.
2026 could be the first time that the All Blacks and Springboks face off in the USA in what would be a massive fixture for the hosts of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-and-all-blacks-plan-to-take-the-greatest-rivalry-to-the-usa-reports
