The All Blacks will open their 2026 South Africa tour with a high-profile first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on August 22, 2026. This match is part of a historic three-Test series in South Africa followed by a fourth test elsewhere, featuring a multi-fixture tour between Aug 7 and Sept 12.
The All Blacks will play the Stormers on Friday, August 7, to open the tour in Cape Town, and then play the Sharks on Tuesday, August 11, in Durban. They will play the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, August 15, with a week until the first Test on August 22 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
They will stay in Johannesburg to play the Lions on August 25, and then meet South Africa in the second Test at Cape Town. A week later, they will play the third Test back in Johannesburg, but at FNB Stadium. The fourth Test will be played at a yet-to-be-named venue on September 12.
All Blacks vs South Africa Key 2026 Tour Details:
First Test: August 22, 2026 – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Second Test: August 29, 2026 – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Third Test: September 5, 2026 – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Fourth Test: September 12, 2026 – Venue to be announced (reportedly Baltimore,USA)
Read more: North America will provide a stage for a Springboks v All Blacks clash this year.
South Africa vs New Zealand teams
South Africa: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Siya Kolisi (captain), 7. Ben-Jason Dixon, 8. Jasper Wiese, 9. Cobus Reinach, 10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Aphelele Fassi.
Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Elrigh Louw, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Grant Williams, 23. Handré Pollard.
New Zealand: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Scott Barrett (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Mark Tele’a.
All Blacks vs South Africa Match Preview
On Thursday, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, the touring series between the Springboks and the All Blacks held every four years, has announced Baltimore, Maryland, USA as the host city for the 2026 series’ historic fourth Test on Saturday, September 12.
The venue, M&T Bank Stadium, is the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.
The match will conclude the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which includes games between the All Blacks and South Africa’s four franchise teams, and three Tests between the Springboks and the All Blacks on South African soil.
Fans will also get to witness a double header in Johannesburg between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women before the tour comes to the US.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixtures 2026:
Friday, August 7: Stormers v All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday, August 11: Sharks v All Blacks, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, August 15: Bulls v All Blacks, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, August 22: Springboks v All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg (first Test)
Tuesday, August 25: Lions v All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, August 29: Springboks v All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town (second Test)
Saturday, September 5: Springbok Women v Black Ferns, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday, September 5: Springboks v All Blacks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (third Test)
Saturday, September 12: Springboks v All Blacks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA (fourth Test)