The venues for the 2025 Springboks home Tests have been confirmed as the world champions return to the Eastern Cape for the first time since 2021.
SA Rugby confirmed the venues on Thursday with the Springboks set to tackle Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the second Test match of the year.
Rassie Erasmus‘ charges will play their first international of the year against the Azzurri at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on July 5, 2025 and will also play in Nelspruit, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
Springboks’ home Tests
The Springboks will face Italy for the first time since 2013 before tackling Georgia who last faced the Boks ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions.
The last time the Springboks played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was two Tests against Argentina in 2021 which was played behind closed doors due to the COVID pandemic.
Meanwhile, Georgia will face the Springboks at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 19 July in what will be only the third meeting ever between the two nations. South Africa have a perfect record in Nelspruit having won all five of their previous matches at the venue, beating Scotland, Wales, Argentina and New Zealand on the Lowveld with their most recent success being the second meeting against Los Pumas to clinch the Rugby Championship title last year.
Erasmus’ charges will begin their Rugby Championship title defence at Ellis Park on Saturday, 16 August against the Wallabies before heading to Cape Town for the second clash against Australia.
The Boks will then face the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 6 and 8 September, respectively.
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They return to South Africa for their final home Test match of the year at Kings Park in Durban where they will face Argentina on Saturday, 27 September before concluding the Rugby Championship with clash against the same opposition at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London.
“The confirmation of the Test venues always gives us peace of mind from a coaching and management team perspective because it means we can step up our planning, and it also boosts the excitement from the public for the season,” said Erasmus.
“We have played at most of these venues in the last few years and we know them well, although it will be particularly exciting to return to Gqeberha for the first time since 2021.
“We thoroughly enjoy the passionate support we receive from our home crowds throughout the country, and we have no doubt we will enjoy great support at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium once again – this time in a packed stadium, which we last experienced in the Eastern Cape in 2018 against Australia.”
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Springbok home fixtures in 2025:
5 July: Springboks v Italy – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: Springboks v Italy – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: Springboks v Georgia – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
16 August: Springboks v Australia – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
23 August: Springboks v Australia – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
27 September: Springboks v Argentina – Kings Park, Durban
Springboks away fixtures in 2025
6 September: v New Zealand – Eden Park, Auckland
13 September: v New Zealand – Sky Stadium, Wellington
4 October: v Argentina – Twickenham Stadium, London
8 November: v France, Paris
15 November: v Italy, TBC
22 November: v Ireland, Dublin
29 November: v Wales, Cardiff
READ MORE: Springboks fans are all saying the same thing after Felix Jones’ return to Rassie Erasmus’ team
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-home-fixtures-confirmed-as-rassie-erasmus-men-return-to-gqeberha
