The 2026 calendar may not feature a traditional Rugby Championship, but it does showcase a nostalgic tour that pits New Zealand's All Blacks against South Africa’s Springboks in a series of eight encounters, four of which are full‑blown Test matches, all broadcast live on Sky Sports. Marketed in both countries as the "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour," the itinerary celebrates more than a century of competition between the two most successful rugby nations in history. So far the All Blacks have dispatched the Stormers (21‑38 in Cape Town), the Sharks (0‑54 in Durban) and the Bulls (19‑50 in Pretoria). The four Test matches are scheduled for August 22, August 29, September 5 and September 12, with the final showdown taking place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, USA.
The itinerary also includes a mid‑tour game against the British & Irish Lions on August 25 in Johannesburg. **Origins of the Rivalry** The first meeting between New Zealand and South Africa occurred on 13 August 1921 at Carisbrook in Dunedin, when the Springboks toured New Zealand. The All Blacks edged a 13‑5 victory, only for the hosts to win the second Test 9‑5 a week later at Eden Park.
The series concluded with a 0‑0 draw in Wellington, leaving the inaugural tour dead‑locked at 1‑1. That early encounter set the stage for a rivalry that would become the benchmark for international rugby. To date the two sides have faced each other in roughly 110 Test matches.
The All Blacks have recorded 63 wins, the Springboks 43, and four games have ended in a tie. When the matches are split by venue, the balance tilts slightly in favour of the home side: in South Africa the hosts have won 28 of 54 Tests (25 losses, one draw), while in New Zealand the All Blacks have prevailed in 34 of 48 Tests (11 defeats, three draws). **World Cup Showdowns** The rivalry has produced several iconic World Cup moments. South Africa triumphed over New Zealand in two dramatic finals – 1995 in Johannesburg and 2023 in France – and also bested the All Blacks in the 1999 third‑place playoff.
Conversely, New Zealand eliminated the Springboks in the 2015 semi‑final, the 2003 quarter‑final and a 2023 pool match. **The Political Interlude** From 1948 to 1994 South Africa’s apartheid regime cast a long shadow over the sport. The policy of racial segregation meant that Māori players were excluded from tours to South Africa, prompting New Zealand to omit several of its stars and igniting public protests, most notably during the 1960 tour. International pressure eventually led to South Africa’s exclusion from the Olympic Games, the Davis Cup and many other competitions.
Rugby was one of the last sports to enforce a boycott, allowing a few tours to proceed in the 1960s and early 1970s, but the growing anti‑apartheid movement culminated in the cancellation of the 1985 All Blacks‑Springboks series and the broader sporting isolation of the South African team. In 1986 a rebel side called the New Zealand Cavaliers toured South Africa without official sanction. Participants faced bans and, for some, the end of their international careers. After apartheid fell, South Africa re‑entered the global arena, playing a Test against New Zealand in 1992 – a match the Springboks won 27‑24 at Ellis Park.
**The 1995 World Cup – A Nation United** Nelson Mandela’s election as president in 1994 transformed the Springboks into a symbol of national unity. Hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup, South Africa entered as underdogs, ranked ninth after years of isolation. Yet they defeated the heavily favoured All Blacks 15‑12 in a final that still sparks debate. Many attribute the result to a mysterious bout of food‑borne illness that struck a large portion of the New Zealand squad.
Conspiracy theories involving a missing waitress named “Suzie” and even private investigations were floated, but no concrete evidence ever emerged. What remains indisputable is that the All Blacks were seriously ill in the days leading up to the match. **The Professional Era and Shifting Dominance** The All Blacks responded in August 1996 with a revenge tour of South Africa, winning the first two Tests and clinching the series with a third‑match victory at home. From 2001 to July 2004 the All Blacks went unbeaten against the Springboks, winning 13 of 17 encounters.
New Zealand’s dominance continued with Tri‑Nations titles in 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003 and an unprecedented run of four straight crowns from 2005‑2008, plus additional titles in 2010, 2011‑2013 and 2016‑2018. The All Blacks also secured Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015, the latter team often hailed as the greatest ever side.
South Africa, however, enjoyed periods of resurgence. After a crushing 57‑0 loss to New Zealand in Albany in September 2017 and a string of defeats to European powers, the Springboks appointed Rassie Erasmus as head coach. Erasmus revitalised the squad, leading to a historic 36‑34 win in Wellington in September 2018 – the first victory on New Zealand soil since 2009.
The following year South Africa captured their third World Cup, defeating England in the final in Japan. Since that triumph, the Boks have won seven of eleven Tests against the All Blacks, claimed the Rugby Championship in 2024 and 2025, and lifted the 2023 World Cup, albeit under unusual circumstances when New Zealand fielded a 14‑man side. **The Current Landscape** The Springboks entering 2026 appear deeper and more versatile than ever, while New Zealand is undergoing a rebuilding phase under new head coach Dave Rennie after the dismissal of Scott Robertson. Rennie has described the upcoming eight‑match, six‑week itinerary – including the four‑Test series – as "the toughest tour in rugby" and a chance to test the side against the sport’s current benchmark.
**Schedule Recap** - Aug 7: Stormers 21‑38 All Blacks (Cape Town) - Aug 11: Sharks 0‑54 All Blacks (Durban) - Aug 15: Bulls 19‑50 All Blacks (Pretoria) - Aug 22: 1st Test – South Africa vs New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg (4:10 pm BST) - Aug 25: Lions vs All Blacks, Johannesburg (6 pm BST) - Aug 29: 2nd Test – South Africa vs New Zealand, Cape Town (4:10 pm BST) - Sep 5: 3rd Test – South Africa vs New Zealand, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (4:10 pm BST) - Sep 12: 4th Test – South Africa vs New Zealand, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (10 pm BST) Fans can watch every minute of this historic tour live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via NOW. The series not only honors a storied rivalry but also offers a glimpse into the evolving narratives of two rugby powerhouses as they chase glory on both hemispheres.